Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 166
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Letters received — Special bundles
CGS 12061
Royal Commission on Salaries of Ministers and Members of
Parliament, 1920
CGS 12061,
[A1941B Box 3
part]
The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the question of increasing
the salaries or allowances to Ministers and Members of the
Legislative Assembly in New South Wales was held before Walter
Edmunds. The Commissioner recommended that the annual salary
of Members — which included allowances for election expenses,
contributions to charities, expenses during the sitting of
Parliament, and travelling expenses — be raised from £500 to
£875. Substantial increases to the salaries/allowances of Ministers
and the Vice-President of the Executive Council were also
recommended.
The bundle comprises exhibits, note of minutes of proceedings,
transcripts of evidence, and correspondence of the Commission.
The exhibits include statements by various Members of the
Legislative Assembly and detailed statements of Ministers' duties.
Also included is the Letters Patent/Commission appointing Walter
Edmunds, Judge of the Court of Industrial Arbitration, to conduct
the Inquiry, 28 October 1920; and a copy of the Parliamentary
Representatives Allowances and Ministers' Salaries (Amendment)
Bill of 1920 together with explanatory notes.
The report of the Commission can be found in the New South
Wa/es Parliamentary Papers, Second Session of 1920, Volume 2
pages 1351-56.
Papers relating to the issue of Commissions for the
administration of the oath or affirmation of allegiance to
Members of Parliament, 1921-35, 1946-48
CGS 12O61,
[A1941B Box
2]
Under Section 12 of the Constitution Act, 1902 no Member of the
Legislative Council or of the Legislative Assembly is permitted to
sit or vote therein until he has taken and subscribed before the
Governor (or before some person authorised by the Governor) the
oath of allegiance in the form prescribed by the Oaths Act, 1900,
provided that every person authorised by law to make an
affirmation instead of taking an oath makes such affirmation in
every case in which an oath is required to be taken.
This bundle mainly comprises papers relating to the issue of
Commissions for the administration of the oath or affirmation of
allegiance to Members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative
Council. However, there are also papers relating to the
appointment of Commissioners to open Parliament on those
occasion when the Governor was unable to do so; and papers
relating to Parliamentary sittings or sessions — the prorogation of
the Legislative Council or Parliament, the dissolution of
Parliament, the opening of Parliament, and for the election of a
new Legislative Assembly.
The majority of papers comprise minute papers for the Executive
Council, drafts and copies of Commissions, copies of
Proclamations, and correspondence to and from the Clerk of
Legislative Assembly and the Clerk of the Legislative Council.
164
State Records Authority of New South Wales
