The series consists of correspondence files covering a wide range of subjects which were submitted to the Prime Minister. Arrangement of files varies between a two number and three number system with single or double letter prefix. Some file numbers do not have letter prefixes.
 
.   The first number stands for the subject eg 204/-/ Postal
    matters. 

.   The second can either identify a sole file on a particular
    subject eg 203/2 'Manifesto of Vessels' or act as a secondary
    subject classification eg 
 
         203/4/1, 'Claims against vessels OBERHAUSEN'
         203/4/7, 'Claims against vessels SUZANNE VIVIEN'
    

.   The third number, where it exists, is always a folio number. The 
    numbers of the folios increase from the back of the file to the
    front. Occasionally a single or double letter prefix is used to
    further differentiate files with the same number. 

    Under 204/-/ Postal Matters, for example, the following range
    of files may be found: 

         D 204/1, 'Wilcannia and Tilpa New South Wales' to V 204/1,
         'Telephones - Use of Australian Telephones'. 

         Following immediately after this is the range of files
         AA204/1, 'Wycheproof - Duties of Postmaster' to ZA 204/1,
         'Telephone Lines to Sea Mill and Cape Capricorn -
         maintenance of'.
 
The range of main subject headings is 1/ 'Staff' to 5000/
'Miscellaneous'. The registration booklet relating to the latter heading indicates that 'Miscellaneous' files were arranged alphabetically by title of file or name of the person the file concerned. 

As no secondary numbers or letter prefixes have been allocated to these files the first three letters of the title (or name) have been added in square brackets after the registration number to simplify identification and retrieval.
 
The subject index cards, annual single number series and multiple number series, CRS A77, are filed without regard to alphabetical arrangement or cross referencing. 

Many files are listed on CRS A77 cards but are no longer extant. The result of a test case for a group of 'Forestry' 521 references, showed that three only of the fourteen files listed were extant in CRS A457. 

Some subjects represented in the control record such as 'Aboriginals' 513 have no extant files. These files may be located in series A458.

All items in this series in the custody of the National Archives of Australia as at October 1997 have been entered onto RecordSearch.

Related series unregistered

Registration booklets, multiple number series, first system 1921-1923 (ex CP 103/24)