Description of series:
Principally typed notes, almost always undated, and quoting, with comments, from the report of the Royal Commission (1935-37) on the monetary and banking systems; also from other similar reports submitted in Canada and the United Kingdom (Macmillan Committee). Notes from publications by Keynes, Kisch and Elkin, A.C. Davidson, and journals such as "The Economist". Cuttings from the "Financial Times" (19th Apr.1933) giving Sir Otto Niemeyer's suggestions on a central bank for the Argentine. Other notes include two pages on Cabinet Memoranda. A small quantity of long-hand writings appear under the heading "Future of monetary policy". A few letters are concerned with arranging for Mr. A.G. Roberts to give evidence before the Royal Commission, but these appear incidental, and the file does not seem to have been created during Mr. Harris' period as Secretary. (See History). The largest single item in this small collection is a 27 pp. examination of the Guernsey Island experiment in communal currency, compiled by J. Theodore Harris, B.A., and having a preface by Sydney Webb dated Dec. 1910.
 
History Prior/Subsequent to Transfer:
Mr. W. T. Harris was the secretary of the Royal Commission appointed (15th Nov. 1935) to inquire into the monetary and banking systems operating in Australia. Its report was presented on 24th August 1937. Mr. Harris later became the Assistant Secretary (Finance) of the Department of Aircraft Production. These personal papers, in no way relating to his duties with that Department, became somehow mingled with the records in MP 450/1, and eventually were transferred to the Brighton repository along with that set. They were erroneously imagined by officers of the Department of Supply to have been put together by Mr. V. F. Letcher, D.A.P's one-time Assistant Secretary (Administrative). As will be seen from their description, it is not always easy to determine exactly when these papers were produced. Only a very small number can be certainly placed as created
incidental to Mr. Harris' duties as secretary of the Royal Commission (see the letters arranging for Mr. A. G. Roberts to give evidence). The circumstances in which the others were brought together can only be conjectured. At first sight, they could contain notes collected incidental to the writing of the Commission's report. But many seem to post-date it and be extracts from it. Some of the notes may even have been the bases of articles later written by Mr. Harris, or of advice subsequently tendered by him to the Government on banking matters. Mr. J. B. Chifley had been a member of the Commission and may afterwards have sought advice from the former secretary. In this connection there are to be considered the two pages of notes headed "Banking recommendations: Cabinet memoranda". It is possible that they represent Mr. Harris' opinions on proposed memoranda submitted to him. Unfortunately, Mr. Harris is not available for consultation on these points. It is understood that he retired to live in
Barcelona and is now deceased.

Unregistered Person:
Mr. W. T. Harris has not been registered as a recording agent due to insufficient knowledge of his duties and role during the time this series was created.

All items in this series have been entered onto RecordSearch.
 
Administrative information
 
The following data was keyed from the paper documentation:
Form number:              CA 17
Creating department:      , Royal Commission on Monetary & Banking                           Systems 1935-1937,, Secretary,
Transferring department:  , PRIME MINISTER'S, ROYAL COMMISSION ON                           MONETARY & BANKING SYSTEMS(1935-1937), Date of transfer:         26/10/1961
Archives file number:     RWM2/3/1