Summary heading
Division of Industrial Development
Function and purpose
This series consists of files created by the Department of War Organzation of Industry, Central Office (CA 45); and its subsequent agencies, the Secondary Industries Commission (CA 271); the Department of Post-War Reconstruction [also (2) Secondary Industries Division] (CA 776), Melbourne Office; and the Department of National Development, Division of Industrial Development, Head Office (CA 1715).
The exact nature of the relationship between the Secondary Industries Division (CA 1715) and the Secondary Industries Commission is difficult to assess, but it appears that the Division provided administrative support and acted as a go-between with the Commission and its clients. This was particularly the case with the disposal of munitions factories, where the Division was the point of initial contact for clients and carried out investigations on the Commission's behalf. The Division would then forward recommendations to the Commission (and thereby the Cabinet sub-committee and minister) for approval or otherwise. The Division also provided the minister with advice on policy matters. The series also contains correspondence from the the Department of Post-War Reconstruction, Central Office (CA 49), including its one-time Director-General, Dr. H C Coombs.
The records reflect the changing priorities of their time, as seen by the series of administrative changes influencing their creation that resulted during and after the war. Predominately the records deal with governmental relations, activities and policies concerning Australian secondary industry, at first towards meeting the needs of war and then towards strengthening the economic base of Australia through such policies as decentralization. The government hoped that by assisting industry with such measures as standardization, manpower, technical expertise, overseas investment in Australia and materials it could promote the growth of Australia in peacetime and be better prepared in the event of another war. These measures, when coupled with a greatly increased level of immigration, aimed to lift the status of Australia in both regional and international terms.
Most of the records are held in buff colored file covers and tend to have the agency and/or section printed or stamped on the front covers. A small quantity of records are contained in hard cover binder folders and a good number of files have no identification by name and/or control symbol. The series appears to also contain a number of estrays such as files bearing a single number system identified by Department of Supply and Shipping letterhead and a few others that have an annual single number system with alphabetical prefix.
The series contains correspondence at a high level, including Prime ministers Curtin and Chifley, the then minister reponsible, John Dedman, and senior public servants such as G T Chippendale, H P Breen and B W Hartnell. Subjects covered include: bank rationalization, Commonwealth War Loans, the recruitment of German scientists for Australia (Employment for Scientific and Technical Enemy Aliens - ESTEA Scheme), the procurement of war reparations for Australia, applications for employment in Australia by foreigners (Overseas Scientific and Technical Experts Employment - OESTEE Scheme), and the disposal of wartime munitions factories. Other topics covered are decentralization, standardization, manufacturing regulations (quality control, etc.), materials supply, assistance to industry via sponsorship and research, import/export control, fisheries, and general technical matters and production data.
The records transferred under this number, MT105/8, as one consignment, were split into two consignments under the same series number as part of the Review of Records in custody in 1992 (MT105/8/1 and MT105/8/2). The records in MT105/8/2 mostly consist of files relating to the lease of munitions factories to private firms. A packing list was prepared for both accessions at the time of the Review.