Bargain-Hunters Rush Warehouse

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 213, 28 November 1927, Page 13

Bargain-Hunters Rush Warehouse

A DETERMINED SIEGE AMONG THE SHOPPERS '[.'■LOURISHING her umbrella in the young man’s face, the experienced. and withal, determined, bargain-hunter demanded: “Sir, do you know why I have come here ?” It was an effort tc be polite in the circumstances. On every hand were equally determined women with the light of battie in their eyes. His arm thrust forward, blocking the entrance, firm and equally resolute, he replied. “Stand back there!” The woman with the umbrella was only one of hundreds at Archibald Clark and Son's. Ltd., sale in Auckland this morning. The decision of the firm to change from wholesalers to retailers caused positive consternation among Auckland householders. There must have been 1.000 people lined up outside the premises between nine and ten o'clock. Special /oltce and traffic officers were requisitioned in order to keep the intending purchasers within bounds. Bargain-hunting is not necessarily confined to women, though for the fair sex it undoubtedly has an extraordinary fascination. There were m) y men in the queue. PRESSED AGAINST THE DOOR Those in the front rank were pressed against the door. Occasionally it opened to admit a few. A determined rush on the part of the advance guard announced the removal of the belts within.

and traffic officers were requisitioned in order to keep the intending purchasers within bounds. Bargain-hunting is not necessarily confined to women, though for the fair sex it undoubtedly has an extraordinary fascination. There were m| y men in the queue. PRESSED AGAINST THE DOOR Those in the front rank were pressed against the door. Occasionally it opened to admit a few. A determined rush on the part of the advance guard announced the removal of the belts within. “You can’t say that women are not sports!” declared an Amazon between puffs, her two feet solidly fixed within the portals. In her rush across the “parapet” she had disregarded the existence of Mere Man. The warning arm of the traffic officer was crushed against the building. Two small and undersized males went down beneath her at the first blow. On the crest of the wave rode a mother with her babe in her arms. “Coom on, luv!” she gesticulated with one free arm, to the baby’s unfortunate father, likewise Lancashireborn, who was struggling in the rear. Father eventually was forced to await the next advance. Inside, a man on a oox armed with a megaphone announced where the respective snippings on the respective floors were to be found. He might just as well have been sileut. The crowd, ignoring his directions, swept past him. It would almost appear as if the millinery department was the Mecca of all womankind. Bobbed, shingled, unbobbed, unshingled—they were all there, sifting, turning, fingering. Hat on head, a momentary glance in the mirror, and then back on to the table went the headgear. . . . Others, more successful, gathered up their purchase. and proudly marched to the cash desk. P other popular meeting-place was the small boys' outfitting depot. “My little boy likes them with a blue stripe,” confided one mother. “Reely,” said her friend. “ ’Avoid won’t wear nothin’ but plain white!” WHY DIDN’T SHE COME? A moment’s pause for a second’s gossip. In her hand was an Infantile singlet. “Why hasn’t she come?” she queried. “Missing all this!” “Who?” “Mrs. Brown.” “Monday morning, of course!” “Well, she could 'are left her washin’ for once.” And so it went on. Outside the crowd pushed and struggled every time the door opened a few inches. A few yards down the street emerged a thin line of shoppers from the artfully-guarded back entrance. In each hand was a. brown paper parcel and on each and every face was a smile of triumph.