100 years ago today in Wellington: mercantile concerns

The Wellington Dominion newspaper of 6 February 1923 didn't mention Waitangi Day on this day 100 years ago, because the occasion wasn't first commemorated until 1934, and didn't become a public holiday until 1974. The Dominion's news columns were mainly concerned with the collapse of the Lausanne Conference in Switzerland (although '[p]roceedings at the Conference have to appearance averted any danger of an early resumption of hostilities between Turkey and the Allies'). But it did feature a range of pictorial advertisements that give a flavour of the retail environment in the capital in 1923.

 

"MOTHER! Clean Child's Bowels with 'California Syrup of Figs'*

(A laxative invented in 1879, California Syrup of Figs or 'Califigs' was produced by the California Fig Syrup Company of Reno, Nevada)

"A useful apron for needleworkers"

"Strang's 'Maori' Coffee"

"Wrigley's 'After Every Meal'"

"You may pay more for Closed car, but you can't get more in real motor car essentials..."

"You travel care-free on 'Star' Cord Tires"