HRISTMAS TRADE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4509, 29 December 1922, Page 3

HRISTMAS TRADE.

. ■GRATIFYING RESULTS. Seeking reliable information as to - the of Christinas trade in Pae--roa la “Gazette” representative apprdabhed several retail firms yesterday. and in every instance they were Ji ’ the opinion that the volume of business done during Christmas was a. record, easily beating the receipts for the corresponding period ' last year. People .sought the better class pf goods, and wer,e not nearly so discriminating in their choice of articles required, and money appeared to,be easier and w,as spent more freely. This fact is accounted for, no doubt, by the substantial increases tn the price of all dairy produce and the enormous sum of money paid out to-the farming community by the dairy companies on the 20th instajiDespite the fact that the Thames business folk arranged for a special ■ train from Paeroa to Thames on Friday last, it is interesting to record that very few people orom this town availed themselves of the facilities offered by Thames to do their, shopping in that town. Of epurse a few did travel to Thames,, but the majority of the residents of Paeroa realised the trjie meaning of the cards displayed in s:o many of the local shop windows, ‘.’The town that is good enough to live in should be good enough to shop in,” and were content to buy locally, especially in view o' the way the businessmen had set ’ themselves. out. to, cater extensively for their requirements. When questioned as to the success of’ t’iie late- night or Saturday as against the usual Friday late night opinions as to the better n’ght were somewhat divided. In any case it is a difficult matter to determine. The ; torrential downpour of rain which commenced on • Saturday afternoon and continued unceasingly until after 11 p.m. undoubtedly made a very great, difference tp the public, especially those ,who had any distance to travel; But throughout Saturday the tiraffic in the main street was very ■ heavy and the shops were thronged with eager purchasers, who spent - money with a freedom that .almost amounted to recklessness, which was a decided contrast with former years. Many people from the Hauraki Plains who h,ad been busy harvesting week, rather than lose valuable time and good weather, left their shopping till Saturday, but un- * fortunately the rain prevented many '■ settlers from making the trip to Pae- ■ roa. "However, a number did brave the elements, and those who did not will no doubt be visiting this town on shopping expeditions during the ensuing week, and to-morrow night is likely to again prove a big night for alb concerned. f