This series primarily consists of ministerial correspondence maintained by Harold Edward Holt in his first portfolio, as Minister Assisting the Minister for Supply and Development, from April 1939 to March 1940. However, in the period November-December 1939 Holt was also Acting Minister for Air and Civil Aviation and, in early 1940, Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs. A few letters in the series are addressed to him in relation to those portfolios. 

The correspondents include individuals, companies and some other organisations. Many of the letters relate to personal representations, often made on behalf of another person, concerning entry into Australia, employment, service in the defence forces or with a defence establishment, and pensions. Other subjects covered relate to various manufacturing industries, the war effort, broadcasting and customs duty. Particular companies and organisations dealt with include Amalgamated Textiles (Australia) Ltd, Beacon Oil Refiners Pty Ltd, Stokes & Sons Pty Ltd (Brunswick), Malvern City Council, Australian Institute of Political Science, Country Women's Association and the Shepparton Tomato Growers Association.

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the surname of the writer or, occasionally, by subject. Related papers are pinned together, including office copies of replies. Some correspondence has Department of Supply and Development file numbers. The related departmental (CA 33) record series has not been established.

The records were transferred to archival custody in Melbourne by the former Department of Supply on 25 September 1959, and controlled as MP392, Bundle 2 (ref. RWM 24/1/13). Originally the contents of an expanding letter file, with pockets for each letter, the correspondence has been placed into folders. Their original alphabetical order has been retained. In December 2001 the records were relocated to Canberra, and the series description revised as part of the Prime Ministers Papers' Project.

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