The Commonwealth Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was constituted under the Science and Industry Research Act 1926 (assented to on 21 June 1926) replacing the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry (CA 550).
 
The powers and functions of the Council were:

 (a) the initiation and carrying out of scientific researches in
     connexion with, or for the promotion of, primary or secondary
     industry in the Commonwealth;
 
 (b) the training of research workers and the establishment and
     awarding of industrial research studentships and fellowships;  

 (c) the making of grants in aid of pure scientific research;  

 (d) the recognition or establishment of associations of persons
     engaged in any industry or industries for the purpose of
     carrying out industrial scientific research and the co-operation
     with and the making of grants to such associations when
     recognized or established;  

 (e) the testing and standardization of scientific apparatus and
     instruments, and the carrying out of scientific investigations
     connected with standardization of apparatus, machinery,
     materials and instruments used in industry;
 
 (f) the establishment of a Bureau of Information relating to
     scientific and industrial matters;
 
and also that of acting as a means of liaison between the Commonwealth and other countries in matters of scientific research. Thus the Council was to assume all of the powers and functions previously held by the Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry.  
 
Although the Council held its first meeting in June 1926 (Federal Guide, 1926, p 11), the membership was not announced until 11 November 1926.  The inaugural membership of the Council was:
 
 (a) Nominated members -
     George Alfred Julius, BSc, BE, MIMechE, MIE (Aust) - (Chairman),
     William Johnstone Newbigin, MIE (Aust),
     Professor Albert Cherbury David Rivett, MA, DSc
 
 (b) Chairman of State Committees -
     New South Wales - Professor Robert Dickie Watt, MA, BSc
     Victoria - Emeritus-Professor Sir David Orme Masson, KBE, MA,
      DSc, LLD, FRS
     Queensland - Professor Henry Caselli Richards, DSc
     South Australia - Professor Arnold Edwin Victor Richardson, 
      MA, DSc
     Western Australia - Bennett Perry
     Tasmania - Peter Ernest Keam
 
 (c) Co-opted members -
     Professor Ernest James Goddard, BA, BSc
     Professor Harold Addison Woodruff, MRCVS
 
(Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No 108 of 11 November 1926, p 1842)
 
The Science and Industry Research Act 1926 made provisions for the establishment of State Committees, the function of which was to advise the Council with regard to:
 
 (a) the general business of the Council; and
 
 (b) any particular matter of investigation and research.
 
These State Committees were appointed on 11 November 1926 (Gazette No 108 of 11 November 1946, p 1842).
 
The Act also established an Executive Committee of the Council consisting of the members of the Council appointed by the Governor- General on the nomination of the Minister.  The Executive Committee exercised all powers and functions of the Council between meetings of the Council.
 
Officers employed under the Science and Industry Research Act 1926 were not subject to the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-1924 but were engaged for such periods and subject to such conditions as were prescribed.
 
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was not dependent solely on Treasury funds.  As early as 1929 interest in the work of the Council was backed by private financial support.  10,000 Pounds was donated for the purpose of erecting a Soils Laboratory, and 20,000 Pounds for the erection of an Animal Health Laboratory to be staffed and maintained by the Council.  During the depression year 1932/33, 40% of the expenditure of the Council (56,672 Pounds) was contributed from sources other than the Commonwealth Treasury, apart from gratuitous services and assistance in kind.  (V Jansen, The Development of the CSIRO Public Administration, v 14, 1955)
 
Although the Prime Minister administered the Science and Industry Act according to Administrative Arrangements Orders, the following Ministers have also been responsible for the administration of the Council during the specified periods (possibly in a Minister-assisting capacity):
 
 06 Jan 1932-29 Nov 1937: Alexander John McLachlan - Vice-President
                          of the Executive Council until 12 October
                          1934, then Postmaster-General (CA 9)
 29 Nov 1937-07 Nov 1938: Richard Gardiner Casey - Treasurer  (CA 11)
 14 Mar 1940-13 Aug 1940: Sir Henry Somer Gullett - Vice-President 
                          of the Executive Council
 14 Aug 1940-28 Oct 1940: Herbert Brayly Collett - Vice-President  of
                          the Executive Council
 28 Oct 1940-29 Aug 1941: Harold Edward Holt - Minister for Labour 
                          and National Service (CA 40)
 07 Oct 1941-19 Feb 1945: John Johnstone Didman - Minister for War 
                          Organization of Industry (CA 45)
 06 Jul 1945-18 May 1949: John Johnstone Didman - Minister for Post-
                          War Reconstruction (CA 49) until 1 November
                          1946 then Minister for Defence (CA 46)
 
The Science and Industry Research Act 1949 was proclaimed on 18 May 1949 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 34A of 19 May 1949, p 1306A).  This Act repealed the 1926 Act, thus abolishing the Council, and established the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CA 641).
Historical agency address
314 Albert Street, Melbourne, Vic
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Acts, No 20 of 1926, Science and
          Industry Research Act 1926
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Acts, No 13 of 1949, Science and
           Industry Research Act 1949

Agency controlled unregistered

Bureau of Information, Commonwealth Council for Scientific and
 Industrial Research
Executive Committee, Commonwealth Council for Scientific and
 Industrial Research, 1926-1949

The Commonwealth Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was constituted under the Science and Industry Research Act 1926 (assented to on 21 June 1926) replacing the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry (CA 550).
 
The powers and functions of the Council were:

 (a) the initiation and carrying out of scientific researches in
     connexion with, or for the promotion of, primary or secondary
     industry in the Commonwealth;
 
 (b) the train ......