MEAT AND CLOTHES RATIONING ENDED IN AUSTRALIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22670, 22 June 1948, Page 5

MEAT AND CLOTHES RATIONING ENDED IN AUSTRALIA

(N. Z. P. A.- Reuter—Copyright.) (11-30 a.m.) CANBERRA, June 22. The rationing of meat and clothing in Australia has ended, and no coupons for these commodities will be required from today. This announcement by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley, came ns a complete surprise to tradesmen and people generally.

The press was excluded from the Premiers’ conference and received word of the decision in one of Mr. Chilley’s short communique of 13 words.

Recommended By Experts

In making the announcement to the Premiers, Mr. Chifley said that the decision was the result of a recomnrendation by experts. They had claimed that the public had large numbers of unused clothing coupons and would be more likely to engage in unnecessary and panic buying if the deadline date was announced than if the decision took effect immediately. The clothing trade, he said, had told the Government that there were ample stocks to meet normal public demands. The Premiers received the announcement without discussion.

In his previous statement concerning the decision of the Government _to abandon clothes and meat rationing, Mr. Chifley gave no indication of the date.

In his letter to the Premiers last Thursday, he stated merely that clothes rationing would be discontinued at an early date. “Premier Acted Wisely”

The only criticism so far is by a section of the retail trade which says that, in face of the threatened. rise in prices due to the pending relinquishment of price controls, wealthy people might indulge in heavy buying, thus creating early shortages in some lines. Mr. A. J. Buckingham, president of the Retail Traders’ Association, said the Prime Minister had acted wisely and well.

“We have been urging the Government for the past six months to abolish clothes rationing," said the federal secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce "We welcome the end of it. It was only an irritation to the people and caused unnecessary work by the short-staffed retail stores.’’