CHRISTMAS JOYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1939, Page 10

CHRISTMAS JOYS

CANADIAN CONTRIBUTIONS. OTTAWA. Canadian products materially help to gladden the hearts of young and old in many lands at Christmas time. More than five million Christmas trees are cut every year and shipped mostly to the United States, to give untold pleasure to millions of children. The Canadian export trade in Christmas trees runs into about 4.000,000 trees to the United States every year, while small quantities are shipped to Mexico. Panama and other countries. The domestic requirements are approximately one million trees.

Another object of joy provided by Canada is the sprig of holly, plentifully adorned with red berries. These are grown on farms on Vancouver Island specially devoted to its culture. Acres after acres are planted in holly bushes and in the early winter the ■prigs are carefully clipped, packed and shipped. These are sent across Canada, to the United States and even to the Far East to adorn the family plum pudding. Toys to the value of thousands of dollars are exported from Canada as well as many other commodities suitable for gifts. In return, Canada imports Christmas goods to the value of millions of dollars from many lands. Thus the Christmas trade exemplifies the true spirit of international goodwill and international barter -and trade, overcoming restrictions and handicaps to win the hearts of children and grown-ups the world over.

In addition many Canadians visited the United Kingdom and Continental Europe this Christmas. . Steamship agencies reported the pre-Christmas traffic exceptionally heavy last year.