CHRISTMAS SEASON.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 311, 17 December 1936, Page 4

CHRISTMAS SEASON.

I SHOPPING RUSH WEEK. [ Special Stratford Post Office Arrangements. I I ' I ■ —■ j As a conclusion to a year which i has been characterised by a solid j and progressive emergence from I the depression conditions ruling i since 1930, Stratford business lan exceptional Christmas shopping i houses are anticipating from today an exceptional Christmas shopping week. ! An infallible indication of the prosperity or otherwise of the community ii?s the amount of business being done by the Post Office. At Stratford this j year special measures are being taken ito meet the Christmas rush and those [sending gifts to people in other towns [are advised to post early if they wish [to have, their parcels delivered by .Christmas Day. Already notification has been received by the Stratford Postmaster ,Mr. D. McCready, that the Main 'l'riink travelling post-office will from now until after Christmas be able to carry out sorting of letters only. This means that all packages will have to be sent to the nearest post office for sorting, which in country districts may involve considerable delay in delivery. Post Office Arrangements. Last year it was found necessary to extend the business hours of the Stratford Post Office for one day only, hut Ihis year the extra hours will be observed from Monday next until Thursday. The money-order, savings bank and general counters will be opened at 8.30 in the morning instead of 9 o’clock. The money-order counter will be closed at 4 p.m. as usual,

I but the general counter will bq open i until 6 p.m., and again from 7 o’clock ■ to 8 o’clock in the evening. Shopkeepers’ Satisfaction. ■ i Satisfaction with the present volume j and trend of business was expressed : by a number of Stratford shopkeepers, I interviewed by a Press representative, j to-day. All are taking on extra‘hands ! for the Christmas week, and although j there is a fair number of untrained [girls available who are anxious to I take this temprary assistance, many ; business men are experiencing diffi [culty in securing assistants who have > sufficient knowledge of the work. The tendency of customers to ask for a better class of article, particularly in clothing lines, which lias been felt throughout the year, is well re- ! fleeted in the special shopping of the [ pre-Christmas period. It was explained by drapers, how- I ever, that the public demand in re-1 spect of quality was nqt yet up to pre- ' depression standards. A brake was

jput on the buying of many people by i the fact that they had become flnanJciajly involved during the depression, [and although now receiving good ini comes, were handicapped by past com- ; niitments.

Nearly all customers were now, however, avoiding the very cheap goods and taking good medium-priced articles. Luxury Articles.

' I Expensive items such as first-grade ’ 'rugs and the highly-priced suits and .[sports-wear were still little favoured 1 ! by the general shopping public at } • ' ‘Stratford. An interesting sidelight showing [ ’[how business is affected by internaitional crises was the experience of Stratford booksellers last week. The ' limmense stir caused by the King's ’[abdication and the events which led jup to it had the effect of, to a great ‘ ■extent, suspending the ording shop‘{ping of the period. People in book--shops wanted only newspapers and imagazines giving information on the topic of the hour, and were little in-1 I dined to give their attention to the ; [choosing of. Christmas literature for [their friends and relations. As a i 'result of this, Stratford booksellers I -are now embarking on what will prob- [ jably bo the busiest week in their ex- | ' perioucc. I ' [ I