On 4 January, 1945, Sir Raphael Cilento received the following letter dated 1 January 1945 from the Acting Prime Minister:

 "In accordance with a decision of Federal Cabinet on 10 November
  1944, a Special National Health Survey Committee had been
  constituted for the purpose of conducting an inquiry into matters
  associated with the coal-mining industry. It is desired that you
  will be good enought to act as Chairman of the Committee. The other
  members of the Committee will be Dr H D M L Murray, Controller of
  Welfare, Industrial Welfare Division, Commonwealth Department of
  Labour and National Service, and Mr D T Brewster, Acting Chief
  Inspector of Mines, New South Wales. Before the Committee
  commences its work it is the desire of the Government that it
  should confer with Mr Justice Davidson, Chairman of the Commission
  of Inquiry (CA 703) which is being appointed to examine and report
  upon any matters affecting the efficiency and continuity of coal
  production, as your Committee will function as an intergral part of
  this Commission of Inquiry." 

A preliminary discussion with Justice C G W Davidson took place on 15 January 1945, and discussions were also held with representatives of the Australian Coal and Shale Employees' Federation and with
representatives of various coal-owning groups in New South Wales. These discussions were directed to the "determination of the scope and intention, the programme and itinerary of the Committee." 

It was decided that the intention of the Committee might be set out as follows:-

(a) To peruse and collate representative reports on the health of 
    coal-miners, and to study the applicability to coal-mining in 
    Australia of various recommendations that have been made;

(b) To determine to what extent desirable health safeguards and
    first aid provision recommended from time to time have been
    instituted in Australian coal mines, and what recommendations
    have not been followed, and in each instance to determine as far
    as possible the reasons for their institution or non-institution;

(c) To consider whether other health safeguards or first-aid
    provision appear called for in the interests of the health of
    coal-miners, and, if so, what they are and how they could be set
    up;

(d) To give particular consideration to factors affecting the health 
    of the miner "off the mine", in so far as they may affect his 
    efficiency and physiological resistance as a miner;

(e) To distinguish from more general medical problems particular 
    problems incidental to coal-mining, and to make such
    recommendations for their continuous investigation by technical 
    experts employed constantly in the specialized work incidental
    to the study of such problems, as appear necessary in respect of
    the health of coal-miners;

(f) To determine what facilities exist in respect of personnel, 
    equipment and organization, within and also outside the mines, 
    for the maintenance of the health of miners; for the routine or 
    other inspection of miners or intending miners with a view to 
    preventing disease; for emergency procedures; for the correction 
    of disease and the rehabilitation or subsequent care of miners 
    suffering from temporary or permanent disorders or disabilities; 
    for the improvement and co-ordination inside and outside the
    mine of inspectorial and health services or units, and their
    administrative linkage, if that seems desirable, with units or 
    services set up to assist and protect the public health
    generally; and for any other relevant aspect of this matter.

The Committee, after studying relevant reports and documents, examined representative coal mines and conditions of working in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, and Queensland. Discussions were also held with medical practitioners associated with the examination or treatment of coal-miners. Work done in several States and the interim findings of the special investigations then being carried out by State Departments were placed at the disposal of the Committee. The itinerary followed involved the inspection of 33 coal mines. Working places examined included high, low, wet, dry, dusty,
mechanized and other workings. An attempt was made to see at least one example of every type of working place, and every type of difficulty of which complaint had been or could be made.

During its inspections, the Committee was accompanied by Mr G W S Grant, general secretary of the Australian Coal and Shale Employees' Federation and attended at the various mines by representatives of the miners and the owners.

The Report of the Committee stated that during the discussions incidental to the setting up of the Committee, Mr Forde specially requested that every effort should be made to furnish a report within three months. This had been done accordingly, but the report was necessarily an interim report. It was requested, that the report and recommendations might be forwarded to Justice C G W Davidson, for such further action as may be determined.

The Committee presented its Report to the Prime Minister on 30 April 1945. The Report was published as a Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper. 
The location of the Committee and its relationship with the
Commonwealth Board of Inquiry into the Coal Mining Industry (CA 703) is subject to further research.
 

Historical agency address
Subject to further research