AUSTERITY CHRISTMAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1943, Page 3

AUSTERITY CHRISTMAS

FACED BY AUSTRALIANS. FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER’S ■ PLEA. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 9. An orgy Of foolish, unrestrained Christmas spending would disrupt the nation’s fighting plan, declared the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, when appealing to Australians for an austerity Christmas. He asked that money should not be wasted on peacetime gifts. “The war dictates the type of gift, that should be made—war savings certificates and stamps,” said Mr Curtin. “Anything else would reduce the effectiveness of the nation to maintain its war programme.” This Christmas Australians will have fewer opportunities for spending than eVer before. No special holiday trains will run, and the restricted hotel and guest-house accommodation has already been booked out till the end of February.

Because of staff and supply shortages, few hotels will serve Christmas dinner (7s is the austerity limit) to the public. ‘ Following complaints of high prices being charged for poor quality toys, to maximum profit margin of 40 per cent for retailers has now been fixed by regulation. Felt and wooden toys are the only lines in ready supply. However, while Australian civilians face their most austere Christmas, soldiers in the battle areas will dine on the traditional turkey and ham. The Australian Army is planning to give half a pound of turkey and one-sixth of a pound of ham to every soldier in New Guinea. The troops in the front lines beyond Satelberg, on the Huon Peninsula, head the priority list.