AGY-5188 | Publications Board

Full description

The Board of Publications (Publications Board) was established on 17 January 1921 (1) to control and monitor financial expenditure on Government publications and to liaise between the agency concerned and the Government Printer as to the practicability of publishing such reports, brochures and papers as the agency required. (2)

The Board of Publications had the power to make rules for the conduct of its business, and was required to carry out the following duties:

i) edit all annual departmental reports in manuscript, and submit same, after final revision by the Permanent Head of the department concerned, to the Government Printer;
ii) examine from time to time all publications issued by departments, and advise the Government in what respect economies may be effected;
iii) undertake for departments, when requested, the preparation of public documents other than annual departmental reports;
iv) edit and manage an official popular science journal, with a view to bringing into prominence the scientific work accomplished by Government experts. (3)

On 13 May 1921 the following additional duties of the Board of Publications were approved by the Governor:

i) determine what publications shall cease to be issued, or shall be altered in form;
ii) authorise new editions of useful works of reference now out of date, for which a ready sale can be secured by the Government Printing Office. (4)

The following were appointed members of the Board of Publications: W.J. McKell (Chairman), Minister of Justice; William Applegate Gullick, Government Printer; Clifford H. Hay, Secretary of the Premier’s Department; H.F. Smith, Government Statistician; and Ernest F.H. Harpur, Superintendent of Advertising and Editor of Publications. (5) In the absence of Clifford Hay from the state, F.C.G. Tremlett, Chief Clerk and Acting Secretary of the Premier’s Department would act in Hay’s stead.

Although the Board of Publications was established on 17 January 1921, its first meeting was not held until 10 February 1921 with F.C.G. Tremlett attending in place of Clifford Hay. (6) At the meeting, W.A. Gullick was appointed Deputy Chairman and Ernest Harpur as Secretary to the Board. On 4 February 1921, control of the administration of the Publication of Statutory Advertisements and Notices Act, 1920 was vested in the Premier. (7)

In later years the constitution of the Board included the Government Printer and the Permanent Heads of the Treasury and the Premier’s Department. (8)

ENDNOTES
1. NSW Government Gazette No.18, 4 February 1921, p.809.
2. State Records Disposal Recommendation number 2950.
3. NSW Government Gazette No.18, 4 February 1921, p.809.
4. NSW Government Gazette No.69, 13 May 1921, p.2839.
5. NSW Government Gazette No.18, 4 February 1921, p.809.
6. Minutes of meetings of the Board of Publications, 10 February 1921, State Records reference [19/3892].
7. NSW Government Gazette No.18, 4 February 1921, p.810.
8. History of Premier’s Department, author unknown, undated typescript held in State Records’ staff reference collection, 354.944 HIS.