NEW MARKET DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1921, Page 4

NEW MARKET DAY.

CHANGE IN NEW PLYMOUTH. LARGE CROWDS VISIT TOWN. BRISK TRADE REPORTED. Yesterday was New Plymouth’s first experience of Friday as market day, and the late night for shopping, the preceding the inauguration of Saturday as the weekly half-holiday as from today. The new conditions were naturally watched with interest, and the cons census of opinion indicated that ths change has been a popular one, aad the volume of business was good. There was a large crowd in towi yesterday afternoon, including a big proportion of country visiters, though the numbers as a whole were not quite as high as the usual Saturday, this being accounted for by unfavorable weather conditions in the morning. Last night the crowd in Devon Street waa to all appearances the customary gathering on the former late night; in fact, it was bigger than the usual Saturday crowd. A recital was given by th< New Plymouth Citizens’ Band, and thij also drew a large crowd, while theri wa« good business at places of enter* tainment. Business people, speaking to a Dailj News reporter, expressed eatisfactioi with the change, and especially with th« manner in which the public had quickly adapted themselves to the new. conditions. A good criterion of the influx of country visitors was afforded by the experience of the garages, and one manager stated that yesterday had evidently been treated the same as Saturday, and the number of cars housed was equal to that on the old market day. Another stated that the number of country visitors was slightly leas compared, with a busy Saturday A provision merchant stated that he had had a very satisfactory day, clients including most of ‘his usual country patrons, and a number of these expressed the opinion that the change would suit them quite well. The proprietor of a soft goods firm said trade had been quite up to the average market day, and he was pleased with the business. The manner in whieh the people had responded to' the change was a source of much satisfaction to another engaged in the drapery trade, and from a business viewpoint he was also well pleased with his first experience of Friday as the market day. t A retailer of fancy goods said the day’s ■ business was quite good, while a clothier reported that the stream of customers had not been as good as the average Saturday, but he anticipated trade on -Saturday mornings would ba more brisk than usual in future, thus evening up matters. Similar views were expressed by another clothing who was optimistic as regards the future, basing his opinions on the large crowds which assembled last night.