DISMAL CHRISTMAS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1931, Page 6

DISMAL CHRISTMAS

IN UNITED STATES. MILLIONS IN SORE STRAITS. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEW YORK, December 25. America has celebrated its leanest Christmas in a decade past. 1+ was a Christmas void of every feature of those sensationally prosperous years when only the so-called “extras” were worthy of mention, namely, millions of bonuses in Wall Street houses, end-of-the-year profit-sharing for the stock holders of large corporations, and vast Christmas Club savings. The sole outstanding financial feature this year was the extraordinary number of bank failures, possibly fifty institutions, large and small, closing their doors during the past week. All over the country business continues at a low ebb. Merchants throughout the nation have complained of small sales, despite their preChristmas price slashing. The unemployed are known to ex ceed seven millions, and further wage reductions in the larger industries seem likely. Every effort has been made to reduce the actual suffering, and probably one hundred and thirty million dollars have been raised throughout the nation for relief.

A special effort was being made to extend this relief directly to the householders, but to-night in New York and in other larger cities of America, breadlines many squares long were standing in icy cold streets, waiting for coffee and sandwiches which were handed out from lorries. The naval vessels at many of the ports gave Christmas parties for the children, and thousands were thus entertained. It is estimated that one million persons were fed by charity organisations in New York alone.

The picture throughout the country was a depressing one. It was not “relieved” by the usual number of Christmas Day shootings, stabbings, killings, and poison liquor deaths. Thirty-six persons died from these causes. On e hundred persons were taken to the hospitals suffering from the effects of bad liquor, and six deaths are reported.