This series consists of files from three of the main divisions of the general correspondence series started by the Department of War Organisation of Industry; group 1/- Manpower; group 2/- Industries; group 5/-  General; plus one file from group 7/- UNRRA.  Each file started with an incoming letter which was given a registered number e.g. 2/27/10, the next available number in the relevant registration booklet.  The same number was given to the reply.  A further incoming letter on the same file was given a new number e.g. 2/27/15.  The number of the top letter on the file became the file number.
 
The files deal with all manner of civilian enquiries and complaints on matters arising from war-time conditions; rationalisation and protection of industry; applications for permits under Orders administered by War Organisation of Industry; breaches of Orders and consequent prosecutions; essential civilian production; diversion of manpower to essential production; War Organisation of Industry housekeeping; and many miscellaneous matters.  A large number of reports and results of investigations and questionnaires are to be found with relevant correspondence.
 
History Prior/Subsequent to Transfer:
Prior to transfer: This series was started by the Department of War Organisation of Industry in November 1941. The Department was formally established on 26 June 1941, but did not really start to function until towards the end of the year. The series continued throughout the Department's existence, during which time the Central Office was located in Wentworth House, 203 Collins Street. The Records Section, which maintained the files, came under the Administrative Division of War Organisation of Industry.
 
On 20th February 1945, the Department was amalgamated with the Ministry of Post War Reconstruction.  The organisation and activities of the Department of War Organisation of Industry were to continue in the Directorate of War Organisation of Industry within Post War
Reconstruction, under the Director of War Organisation of Industry (A. A. Fitzgerald), until such organisation and activities had been integrated with those of Post-War Reconstruction. The records of the Department of War Organisation of Industry passed to the Directorate of War Organisation of Industry, still at Wentworth House.
 
On 30th June 1945, the Secondary Industries Division of Post-War Reconstruction absorbed all the relevant sections of War Organisation of Industry, i.e. all the industries divisions except the Building and Fishing Divisions. The correspondence series of records also passed to the Secondary Industries Division, which continued it, adopting the War Organisation of Industry registration system and incorporating some of its own files in it. In 1947 the records were screened, and those no longer required by the Secondary Industries Division were transferred to the repository at Maribyrnong Pyrotechnics Section.
 
Subsequent to transfer: The records were subsequently transferred at Maribyrnong to building 500, and later to the Remount Depot, before being transferred to the Brighton Repository in 1954. No packing list was prepared at the time of transfer from the Secondary Industries Division, but one was made following the appointment of staff in Melbourne. This was later revised when the records were re-arranged to reflect the original filing order.
 
In 1959-1960 the files were culled by Archives staff, and those considered of no archival value destroyed. A new packing list of the files retained was then prepared.
 
Administrative information
 
The following data was keyed from the paper documentation:
Form number:              CA 17
Creating department:      Post War Recontruction, Secondary Industries                           Division
Transferring department:  Post War Reconstruction, Secondary Industries                           Division
Date of transfer:         12/08/1947
Archives file number:     RWM5/1/1