VPRS 12073 Group Review Files

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.The Act gave the Prices Control Commissioner the right to obtain information as required for fulfilling his responsibilities (S49) with this being reinforced by the Regulations made under the Act detailing the types of information to be furnished by traders as published in the Government Gazette No 971 (October 27, 1948). The types of goods and services subject to price monitoring and control (and to Part III of the Act) were set out in the Schedule published under the Act.The tabulation and preliminary analysis of the information in these returns can be seen in VPRS 10251 Financial Analysis Files. The Group Review Files show how these returns were aggregated to reach conclusions and make recommendations regarding goods and services which could be grouped together as they were in the Schedule.The Group Review Files contain detailed written analyses of the data recorded. From these written reports in the files, it is apparent that the information derived was used to develop policy with regard to the payment of subsidies, the setting of prices for goods and services and the determination of retail margins. Summaries of the Group Reviews for 1948 to 1950 may be found in VPRS 12078 Summary of Group Reviews.Each file deals with a different business group (e.g. Bedding and Bedstead Manufacturers, Retail Butchers, Wholesale Butchers). A number of firms which are part of that business group (about 10 in number) are listed with the number of their file from VPRS 10251 Financial Analysis Files. The elements of the financial analysis in terms of assets, liabilities and the elements of the costs of sales are tabulated for each business in such a way that comparisons could be made or general conclusions arrived at. The data in these tabulations derived from 1939 to 1954.Group Review Files were originally registered as Units 50 to 56 of VPRS 10251 Group Review Files