AN AUSTERITY CHRISTMAS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 4

AN AUSTERITY CHRISTMAS

RESTRICTIONS IN AUSTRALIA INDIGNATION EXPRESSED (0.C.) SYDNEY, November 13. The Federal Government is determined that there shall be no relaxation of austerity in Australia at Christmas. There will be no interference with religious observances, but festivities and lavish spending will be discouraged. The blow will fall heaviest on retail stores, for, apart from the Government’s exhortations to the public to refrain from spending, the Minister of War Organisation in Industry (Mr Ji Dedman) is practically demanding rationalisation of the retail trade. Retail stores have already contributed 25,000 men and women to war work, but Mr Dedman wants another 40,000 from them as a contribution to the 220,000 required in the next few months. To achieve this without putting big firms out of business, Mr Dedman proposes internal reorganisation to reduce the work done by employees; complete mergers of independent businesses; operation of two or more businesses on different floors in the one building; joint buying operations; and restriction of city sales of goods more conveniently sold in the suburbs. While the public cares little for the stress and worry thisaist on the big retail stores by the Minister’s edict, they are furious at an order to curtail the activities of Santa Claus. Stores have been prohibited from advertising Father Christmas as a feature of their displays, and impersonations of the “grand old imn of Toyland" must not be paraded in the streets or shop windows. His domain is limited to the four walls of a toy department. As a result many stores which have always featured Santa Claus may decide to cancel his services this year. This hap brought a flood of protest from parents of young children. Minister’s Action Criticised The prohibitions have aroused severe criticism and been hailed as new “Dedmanisms.” Cartoonists have relished the Santa Claus “Dedmanism," and newspapers have compared it with its predecessors, particularly the premature announcement ; of rationing which led to panic buying last May. Mr Dedman then made the explanation that the buying rush was created by Mother’s Day. In attacking the Santa Claus regulation, the Sydney ’’Daily Telegraph" said in a leading article:—“ Austerity has produced some crackpot ideas, but none more ridiculous than Mr Dedman’s attempt to impose national selfdiscipline by discouraging kiddies from seeing Father Christmas. Only a thoroughly humourless man could think up such an idea. It is the fruit of a mind as dry-as-dust, which wants to recast society according/to the copybook maxims of totalitarianism. Maybe that is the most dangerous kind of mind in the world." Professor T. Hytten, economic adviser to the Bank of New South Wales, said; “There’s nothing wrong with the general idea of austerity, but recently there has been a tendency towards pettifogging little restrictions. It seems almost as if certain departments responsible for this have chiefly been concerned vith making their power felt. The ban on Yuletide and Santa Claus is just plain silly.” Other restrictions aim at preventing people from holidaying in the Christmas period. Only normal train services will operate, and reserved bookings for travel have already been filled. Manpower authoriti'es will watch guest houses to prevent additional domestic labour being engaged. Guest-house proprietors have indicated that visitors will be required to make their own beds. The only approved holidays are Christmas, Boxing, and New Year days.