CLOTHES RATIONING IN AUSTRALIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 271, 16 November 1945, Page 5

CLOTHES RATIONING IN AUSTRALIA

AN EASING ANNOUNCED HATS, FOOTWEAR, STOCKINGS COUPON FREE WOMEN WANT ALL FREED Sydney, Nov. 14. Hats, footwear, stocking and socks, and all knitted materials will be coupon-free from to-morrow, announced the Minister of Trade and Customs, Senator Keane. Woollen overcoats and dresses and woollen materials will be reduced in coupon rating to about half the rating of articles and materials of other types. Men’s suits and women’s costumes will still require the same number of coupons, however, to restrict civilian buying, and give returning servicemen and women a chance to be re-outfitted. No further coupon issue will be made in June next, and the public will have to make do until the end of 1946 with the present issue of 56 coupons available to-morrow, and any remaining of the 56 coupons which have been current for six months:

An appeal to the High Court against the Government’s decision to continue clothing rationing until next year will probably be launched by the New South Wales Housewives’ Association. The president of the association, Mrs. Eleanor Glencross claimed that the Government was not constitutionally able to continue rationing for longer than six months after the end of the war. She added that housewives, who had been doing without house linen, would be shocked to find there was no relaxation.

Trade reaction was generally favourable to the Government’s plan, in view of the world shortage of cotton goods.