Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 196
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
As a matter of history, Norfolk Island has been intimately
associated with New South Wales from its earliest days. At one
period the Island formed part of the Colony of New South
Wales, and although it was subsequently attached to form part
of the territory of Van Diemen's Land, yet after a few years the
Island was detached from Tasmania and constituted a distinct
and separate settlement. On this occasion it was declared by
Order-in-Council of Her Majesty that its affairs should be
administered by the Governor of New South Wales. Since the
year 1856, therefore, the Governor for the time being of New
South Wales has acted as Governor of Norfolk Island — with
power to appoint Judges and other officials and to make laws
for the good government of the Island. Since that date a close
and unbroken association has been continued between New
South Wales and Norfolk Island; and the endeavour at all times
has been to administer the affairs of the settlement with due
regard for the special circumstances surrounding the early
history of the Islanders.
Under arrangements made in 1895-96 the responsibility for the
administration for the Island rested with the Government of New
South Wales, but this arrangement was cancelled in view of the
imminence of Federation; the Governor accordingly continued his
administration of Norfolk Island as a Crown colony under the
Order-in-Council of 15 October 1897. Under a subsequent Order in
Council, of 18 October 1900, the Queen ordered that the affairs of
Norfolk Island would be administered by the Governor of the State
of New South Wales. However, following the establishment of the
Commonwealth the Governor approached the Commonwealth
Government about the transfer of Norfolk Island. In August 1902
the Governor wrote that "The present divided authority can never
answer. The Postal arrangements, Customs Tariff, and presumably
the Defence, being worked by one; the administration by the
other".
The bundle comprises papers concerning the reasons for including
Norfolk Island in the Commonwealth territory such as postal
arrangements, defence and the adverse effect of the imposition of
custom duties on Norfolk Island's products entering Australia. Also
includes papers relating to arrangements for the transfer of the
administration of Norfolk Island from New South Wales to the
Commonwealth of Australia.
Included is Secretary of State Despatch No.47 of 3 April 1914
transmitting a copy of an Order of His Majesty in Council of
30 March regarding the transfer of the administration of Norfolk
Island to the Commonwealth of Australia; and a copy of the
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of 17 June 1914 reproducing
the Order in Council and proclaiming the day that the Norfolk
Island Act 1913 would commence, 1 July 1914.
Other papers include: a petition dated 6 October 1902 signed by
82 male inhabitants of the Island requesting to remain a Crown
Colony; copy of a petition of 14 July 1906 from inhabitants of the
Island that the wishes of the community are to remain a Crown
colony; a copy of a petition dated 14 April 1914 by certain
inhabitants of the Island protesting against the forcible annexation
State Records Authority of New South Wales
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