The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1931. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1931. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

Christmas is, .aproaching- rapidly ihit-, and most »folk have turned tneir thoughts , towards. Christmas buying. The buying covers a multitude of matters. There is something required about the home to be renewed or redecorated; the festive board must be replenished with the necessary confectiona; presents have to be bought, and gifts to be made, and it is all a great business! Christmas certainly does stimulate trade, and it is well that it does do so at this juncture. Ordinarily the business man will complain that the public are not buying as they did. Money is not circulating so freely. It is clear, of course, that there is not so much labour employed. With sawmills .standing idle, the big wages of former times are not in circulation ; and with the farmers receiving lees than a shilling for butterfat, the motive power from that source to make the s wheels of business revolve more quickly, has decreased, Many firms and the local bodies have “cut” wages, and so another volume of spending power is decreased. Withal, folk are now more frugal. They realise the reality of the difficult times and the need for saving. Thrift walks abroad, and it is a good thing, too, to prepare for a possible rainy day. But here we are on the threshold of Christmas and however disposed we may be to frugality, the time and the occasion calls for spending. The spirit of Christmas must he revered, and so it is that during the week the business people will have less cause for complaint. The people will be utilising their resources, not so much for themselves, as 1 for the pleasuse of others. A very fine gesture i« being shown by the Returned Soldiers in organising a Christmas party for the children of their comrades. Between 200 and 300' little ones will gather at the Soldiers’ Hall on Wednesday to be entertained, and, to receive from the hands of Santa Claus himself, some little present to mark the festive ocasion. Tt is a well timed act, jifst now when the bread winners of many familites are not able to work full time. So, also, with the appeals by the Mayor and County Chairman for contributions to assist with employment for those out of work, the public have the opportunity of exercising the Christmsa spirit by ready giving to a worthy purpose. All these aids will help folk to enjoy the season approaching jn it festival spirit, are experience none should be denied. The town and district can do much to help in the direction first mentioned. Folk are not shirking themselves in persona] pleasures, and place,? of entertainment are well filled nightly, and as witness the gathering on tu»s Square this evening. It is good to see it, for it is a sign that there is much reserve still in the place, a fact also testified to by the returns from the .savings bank. The general outlook is such that there is riot any occasion to be in doubt about the vorume of Christmas buying possible here. The demand will be in evidence, and it is for the business people to prepare for the occasion and reap the reward of the times.