XMAS SHOPPING

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1931, Page 5

XMAS SHOPPING

ACTIVITY IN LONDON. I Doited Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] {LONDON, December 23. A sudden outburst of pre-Christmas spending has begun, though it is belated, in London. The stores and shops are crowded all day. Semi-offi-cial reports indicate that the seasonable purchase began this year two or three weeks later than usual.. The ’Xmas season’s extra- not© issue up to last week totalled nine millions, compared with twenty-one millions in 1930. ’XMAS IN EUROPE. SNOWSTORMS AND BLIZZARDS. (Received this day at H-15 a.m.") LONDON, December 23. An old fashioned Christmas .prevails on the Continent where icy weather alternates with snowstorms and blizzards. It has! driven wolves from the fastnesses in Jugo Slavia to P re y ll P on live' stock in isolated villages. Sndw flakes fill the former sunny air of Trance, Italy,'Spain and Greece while Portugal is. shivering in the throes, of an economic crisis, hungry and compelled to - hold seasonable gatherings in public "’halls and cheaper premises' as- the only consideiation. Their stimulus of trade precluded their abandonment. Hotels and cafes are doing meagre' business. Queues wait outside * the pawn shops to exchange "possessions for the wherewithal to purchase Christmas fare. 'ln Berlin the theatres are feeling hard times but shopping is brisk though prices are lower.