Restrictions

In the crisis year of 1942, Brisbane people surrendered many of the customary freedoms of daily life. All civilians were required to register for the war effort and were issued with personal identity cards. Children were issued with identity disks. Travel out of Brisbane was restricted, and censorship of publications and private correspondence was enforced. The opening hours of Brisbane’s pubs were shortened and their beer supplies were cut back. Schools closed and housewives became used to standing in long lines to get everyday food supplies.

Furniture and essential equipment was in short supply. The military requisitioned tables and chairs from government offices, suburban schools, and the Army requisitioned all binoculars, even those of racetrack stewards. Newsprint was rationed from mid 1940 and General MacArthur’s press officers strictly controlled battlefront news.

In March 1942 the manufacture of all non essential items including perfumes, nail lacquers and eye make-up was banned. Petrol was rationed through fuel licences and even essential services such as the Police had strictly limited supplies. Anyone wanting to buy a new car needed a special purchase order. Families started to collect aluminium and rags for recycling.

After 15 June 1942, a coupon system rationed clothing and footwear. Fashionable Brisbane people could buy ‘Victory’ clothing, for example, suits which saved cloth by having neither jacket lapels nor trouser cuffs.

To pay for the war, families were encouraged to contribute to Freedom, Victory and Liberty Loans. So keen were Australians to buy these that even when the war ended the government continued with Security Loans, building a fund for public investment. The Federal Government strictly controlled interest rates, profit levels, wages and the prices of most goods and services. It endeavoured to stamp out the inevitable wartime black market and profiteering.

In 1942 schools closed for several months and could only re-open when they had trenches dug around their playgrounds. School children spent part of their week practising air raid drills. A Dig for Victory program was introduced and many school yards were planted with hard-to-get vegetables.

By 1943 home deliveries of groceries came to an end and without refrigerators, families were dependant on ice when available. Housewives needed ration cards to obtain their strict quota of tea, meat, sugar and butter ration.