CHRISTMAS TOYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1925, Page 4

CHRISTMAS TOYS.

CFKMANV COMiN'C TO TiiK FRONT ai'cki.a.M), Xov. gi. S-llila Claus .should !;:■ very : 1 to < liiiilicn this ( hiistinns. Aiic,-inn<! is just now eipeneneing a )>i:ciiiiiiK- l i:t 1 intlux of toys of variety and novelty that fairly will iimazc tin- interested buyer. .Sever Nave the toy shops iooited .more (hi/.y.liug, more templing than they do to-day, and never have the glittering windows attracted >:> many curious and admiring eyes, 'lays, in ia.et, are cheaper and heller than they lane 1..0n tor twelve years, ever -jate I lie nnlueni; of war in toil pitt i 'em in ilie i;st m prohibitive luxuries. Prices show substantial reductions over t ln.se of last .summer, while in point of quality and variety tin-iv is liardly room tor romparison. Some c,f the city shops and arcades are wonderful storehouse of toy treasures, underground caverns of brilliance that, v.i.ubl capture the heart of a modern Monte Christo, it would seem ironical that children should have to Thank Germany for this abiindniue of good things, yet the fact remains that something like To per cent of the toys to he seen in the shops are of German or Austrian origin. Germany has literally swamped ti.c world toy market and lias practically regained with the help of her low wages and arduous living conditions, lli.e monopoly in toys site enjoyed in l'n-l.

"It is quite true” declared a departmental manager, "the hulk oi our toys are German. Of course, I do not like 1 it, hut I cannot lie blamed. When an English agent comes along and oilers me a line <■ t Noah's arias at 2s (id each, and 1 have just been shown a German lot at fid, there is only one course open to mo. The quality is the same, hut 1 would simply never sell the English article. We have enough people complaining about high-priced toys alreadv.”

I The imposition of duty on loreign toys has not had the slightest etieet. It amounts to do per cent, as against a preferential duty of 20 per cent on British toys, yet the Knglish manuincturer has steadily lost ground against the extraordinary cheapness and thoroughness of his German r Hiipet itor. Japan, which had all opportunty of capturing a large share ot the market during the war. Ims been quite unable to lace tin- high quality of tile German made toys. Her poorly-made goods now have little sale, and she is lett practically alone witii her cheap celluloid dolls. Britain appears to hold her own where the superior type of toy is concerned. Sum- truly remarkable examples are to he seen in some- oi the shops hears, the size ot a sheep-dog, that nod their heads and growl most realistically when you pull a string: animals ot all sorts, in beautiful woolly coats: dolls that walk, sleep and cry; model steam engines in excellent working order, and electric trains that run round an electrified track past stations and signals and through long darkened tunnels. A cleverly made novelty is a look of animal pictures, which, when turned over page hv page, gives the voice of a "moo,” ‘‘baa." “bee haw or "growl” according to the species of animal denoted. Ihe ingenuity of some ct i - ese toys i> astonishing, and will delight the dixpasionate adult as much as the imaginative child.