AGY-7661 | Commonwealth Coal Commissioner [II]

Full description

On 8 March 1944 the Coal Production (War Time) Act No.1 of 1944 was pronounced by the Commonwealth government. It declared that 'There shall be a Commonwealth Coal Commissioner who shall be appointed by the Governor-General and shall, subject to the Act, hold office during the continuance in operation of the Act'. (1)

The Commissioner was created to '[aid] the defence of the Commonwealth and the effectual prosecution of [Australia's war effort]', ensure that 'the production of coal in Australia is increased and adequate supplies of coal are provided not only in those places supplied by local production but also in every place in Australia where coal is required and for the use of the Powers allied with His Majesty in the present war'. It was, primarily, 'an authority to govern and direct the production, treatment, handling, supply, distribution, marketing and consumption of coal' during war time. (2)

The Commissioner had a variety of powers. It had the authority to open new mines or re-open previously closed ones, fix coal prices, direct mine owners to receive, hold, convey, or discharge coal, require mine owners to modify their plant if the Commissioner deemed it necessary, and advance loans to mine owners to assist them in furnishing their mine with new equipment to enhance its productivity. (3)

The Commonwealth Coal Commissioner's role was curtailed with the creation of the Joint Coal Board in 1946. The Coal Industry Act 1946 (Cth) declared that the Commissioner would:

'cease to be charged with any duty, or to be empowered to exercise any power or function, under the Coal Production (Wartime) Act 1944 in respect of the coal industry, or of coal mines, or of coal produced, in the State.' (4)

The Commonwealth Coal Commissioner [II] was repealed through the Coal Production (War Time) Act Repeal (Cth) on 14 January 1949 (5), under the proviso that the Commissioner would continue to operate until such time as the Governor General declared that it had ceased operations in a given state. (6)

On 9 June 1955 W. J. Slim, Governor General of Australia, announced that the Commissioner had ceased operations in Victoria and Western Australia. (7) The exact dates the Commissioner ceased operations in all other states is unknown.

Endnotes
1. Coal Production (War Time) Act No.1 of 1944 (Cth), s.6.
2. Coal Production (War Time) Act No.1 of 1944 (Cth), s.3.
3. Coal Production (War Time) Act No.1 of 1944, Part 3 (Cth), s.17.
4. The Coal Industry Act 1946 (Cth) Part III, s.10.
5. Coal Production (War-Time) Act Repeal Bill 1948 (Cth), s.2.
6. Coal Production (War-Time) Act Repeal Bill 1948 (Cth), s.4.
7. PROCLAMATION (1955, June 9). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National: 1901 - 1973), p. 1742; PROCLAMATION (1955, June 9). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National: 1901 - 1973), p. 1742.