CHRISTMAS SEASON.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1915, Page 7

CHRISTMAS SEASON.

ACTIVITY IN THE SHOPS. SPLENDID BUSINESS DONE. LITTLE EFFECTS FROM THE WAR. New Plymouth is filled with the Christmas spirit, and in spite of the war there is ample evidence that all the elements which go to provide a happy Christmas will be encouraged to play freely in a prosperous community. To wander amongst the principal shops in Devon Street is to gather the impression that there are no disturbances in the economical world, for shoppers in large numbers appear to be as free with their purses as in past years, and there are few trades which cannot report at least "satisfactory business." The pulse of the retail trade as a whole is beating healthily with optimism and confidence. Two or three things stand our prominently in the retail trade. A leading firm who deal principally in the good things which laden the Christmas table, state that business this week is better than it has been for many years, while, in spite of the closing of certain fields of trade, many luxuries now on the market are cheaper than they wera this time last year. This trade is, therefore, in a remarkably buoyant position, and whatever else is missed from the festivities, it is very evident that "the inner man" is going to revel in a round of exhaustive days. Another feature is that Diiyers of presents are somewhat fewer than usual, and they show an Inclination to remember their friends without placing too big a strain on their purses, while a large number of men who have gone to the war have undoubtedly reduced the volume of Christmas purchases. Perhaps it is only natural that most people should calculate that if the landlord misses his rent and the baker his weekly half-sov. the kiddies shall not be neglected at Christmas. No, not though Asquith shouts "Economy!" from the very apex of the Christmas tree, and the British Empire totters to its economic f:i'l, will mothers and fathers forswear the unchallenged right of centuries to, if neiessary, create a debtor balance on the family account books in order to bring the joy of Christmas to the bairns. So it is that the toyman—who impatiently anticipates the Christmas tree by several months, has loaded his counters and shelves with nearly as many toys as if there had been no war. THE WORLD OF TOYS. One effect of the war is that children can say good-bye to the toys from the Fatherland (which has been the principal headquarters of Santa Claus) to which they have been accustomed for years. There never was such a shortage of dolls as now, for Germany is the only nation which has really broken any ice at the moulding of wax and sawdust, paint and tow, into pinky representations of humanity. Which is not to say that dolls will not form part of the Christmas stocking. America and Japan has sent them out by the thousand—the former, perhaps, with the greatest success. There is one special doll from America this year designed to fit in with the popular motto of economy. It is shaped like a real natural baby, and is declared to be unbreakable. That is not to say that it would be unresponsive to high explosive or even a coal hammer, but you can viciously bash its head against the counter, and leave dolly quite unmoved. Mechanical toys, particularly such ones as clockwork beetles, racing cockerels, and the like, whose bright colouring bore the hall-mark of Germany all over, will be found missing. Britain has not made r.iuch headway in toyland since Germany's e.vit, but is still the only place for spades and buckets, bats and balls, yachts and wooden boats and all toys that are peculiarly British. We are far too busy just now to open new toy industries. Japan and America are sending all kinds of natty and clever toys. WAR TOYS AND OTHER GOODS. Needless to say, as many war toys as possible are being imported. Swords and helmets, and drums, guns and trumpets are being anticipated as the chief Christmas demand, but the supply has been limited, owing to there being no lead to spare for toy soldiers, and no iron for pistols. Indeed, it is feared that there will be a distinct shortage of toys for their year, partly owing to the removal of the German article, and partly to shipping outrages. In fancy goods, the situation is fairly good. Christmas puddings are meeting with the customary demand, while cakes and Christmas hams, poultry, etc., are in demand. Probably it is in the tobacconist trade that the activity is not reaching the usual level, for in addition to the business lost by the absence of men, the arrival of Christmas stocks of some articles have been delayed.