VPRS 12075 Index to Prices

Full description

Rationing and Prices were originally a function of the Commonwealth Government as part of its defence responsibilities with State Deputy Prices Commissioners being appointed for each State under the National Security (Prices) Regulations 1939. This function, after a referendum, became one for the individual states in 1948. The Victorian Government passed the Prices Regulation Act 1948 to both control prices during the period of post-war readjustment and control the progressive removal of price control. A Minister in Charge of Prices was appointed from 1950 to 1955. Under the Act, Commonwealth officers could continue to be employed by the State for the purposes of the Act (S50) and to ensure continuity of administration of the function.

This series lists the commodities and services over which the Prices Control branch exercised jurisdiction for the setting of prices. Each volume lists a different class of commodities and services. For each group of goods or types of services, details of individual items or services are clearly defined and described. For goods, this is by type of item and weight or volume in which it was sold and for services, by the type of service. With some commodities and services there is clear differentiation between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in the price to be charged (e.g cost of tickets for attending films). Beside each listed good or service a price is given, which was the price set by the Prices Control Branch.