AGY-5170 | Reconstruction and Development Division (1943-1944) / Division of Reconstruction and Development (1944-later than 1956)

Full description

The Reconstruction and Development Division of the Premier’s Department was established circa October 1943. (1)

The post-war Reconstruction and Development Division of the Premier’s Department was one of a number of organisations established to facilitate the implementation of post-war reconstruction in New South Wales. Other established or proposed organisations were: State Works Council, Electricity Development Authority, Ministry of Housing, Town Planning Authority, and a Ministry of Conservation. (2)

The Public Service Board established the position of Director of Reconstruction and Development who was in charge of the Division and Mr A.M. (Max) Allen, formerly Surveyor-General of the Lands Department, was seconded to the position. (3) Mr Gray, Secretary of the New South Wales Reconstruction Advisory Committee, was also Secretary of the Reconstruction and Development Division. The Division was to 'facilitate the maintenance of contact with the Commonwealth Authorities and other bodies dealing with various aspects of post-war reconstruction and development, and provide a focal point for the work in the State.' (4)

In 1945, the Division of Reconstruction and Development was expanded and organised into three sections dealing with:

i) organisation of the state on a regional basis;
ii) development within state boundaries of secondary industries;
iii) publicity and correspondence work of the Division. (5)

The Reconstruction and Development Division also had a Secretariat to cover the various aspects of the Division’s work not coming within the purview of other sections. The Division co-operated and liaised with various government departments, particularly the Development and Infrastructure Bureau of the Department of Labour and Industry and Social Welfare. (6) The 1944 Public Service Board Annual Report stated the Division 'must concern itself with all phases of economical development and act as a co-ordinating agency in all post-war reconstruction and development measures.' (7)

The title of the Reconstruction and Development Division was changed in 1944 to the Division of Reconstruction and Development. (8) Increasing activity led to staff of the Division being supplemented with experienced officers of appropriate status.

In 1946 A.M. Allen was transferred from the position of Officer-in-Charge of the Division and replaced by Mr P.H. Roper. (9) When the Assistant Under Secretary of the Premier’s Department retired in the 1945-46 financial year, the opportunity was taken to integrate the Division of Reconstruction and Development as a normal administrative section of the Premier’s Department. A re-arrangement of the general administration of the Premier’s Department was completed to allow the new Assistant Under Secretary to give a substantial proportion of his time to the direction of the Division of Reconstruction and Development. (10)

In 1946 the work associated with secondary industries (listed at (ii) above) which had previously been handled by the Division of Reconstruction and Development was transferred to the newly created Secondary Industries Division of the Department of Labour and Industry and Social Welfare. (11)

In the post-war years, the Division of Reconstruction and Development was concerned largely with regional re-planning for the entire state. (12)

ENDNOTES
1. Reconstruction Bulletin No.9, October 1943, p.6, NSW Reconstruction Advisory Committee, State Records reference [4/7831].
2. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1944, p.3.
3. Reconstruction Bulletin No.9, October 1943, p.6, NSW Reconstruction Advisory Committee, State Records reference [4/7831].
4. loc. cit.
5. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1945, p.6.
6. loc. cit.
7. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1944, p.4.
8. ibid, p.9.
9. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1946, p.18.
10. loc. cit.
11. loc. cit.
12. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1947, p.4.