CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 165, 30 December 1926, Page 4

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.

CAUTIOUS BUYERS. Fair Business. Taken as a whole the Christmas shopping period appears to have been fairly satisfactory to Putaruru business people. Some few report increased takings over the whole week, while all are agreed that there was not such a rush on Christmas Eve as formerly. This is accounted for, however, by the fact that buyers seem to have taken the advice proffered in our shopping announcements and commenced their seasonal buying earlier this year than last, in order to avoid the last minute rush. All business people are agreed on this point in that the business transacted before Christmas Eve was far above that of previous years. This tendency on the part of 'buyers to make sure of obtaining their requirements before stocks were reduced is perhaps a sign of the need for cautious buying where shown, which was further testified to by the care and consideration bestowed before purchases were com- “'lfr pleted. Reports show that there was little disposition to decide hastily, that expensive presents were not sought after, and that the bulk of requirements were for something useful and solid, which would prove of lasting benefit. It is estimated that something approaching £IO,OOO was paid out in wages by afforestation, timber and contracting companies| shortly before Christmas, but the bulk of this payment was taken by employees to Auckland and Rotorua, to. which centres there were heavy ings for the holiday period. Taking 4 everything into consideration,' especially the fact that all the timber mills in the district are only working half-time, it may be said that while the Christmas shopping period was not equal to that of last year in the amount of business done, in view of the unemployment mentioned business was more than fair. 9