Development Commission: General Correspondence and Papers, Registered Files (D Series)

The files relate mainly to applications for assistance from the Development Fund, but some, up to 1935, contain rulings on the interpretation of Acts of Parliament bearing on the powers, functions and terms of reference of the Development Commission, unpublished reports on subjects of interest to the Commission, and minutes of meetings of committees.

The subjects covered include agriculture, agricultural co-operative movements, fisheries research, forestry, harbours, the compulsory purchase of land for road improvement, land reclamation and drainage, land settlement, liaison with the National Federation of Women's Institutes, light railways, factories in rural areas, scientific research in government departments, veterinary research, village halls, and miscellaneous surveys and investigations.

The series also contains papers concerning the setting up and administration of the Rural Industries Loan Fund, the Rural Industries Bureau and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, as well as the minutes of the latter two bodies.

Before 1935 each application was given a scheme number but, following that date, each file, whether application or general correspondence, had the prefix 'D' and numbering was started again from 1.

Up to 1979 all the Commission's papers were placed on the 'D' registered file series, but from 1980 correspondence and papers of the Chairman (one of the commissioners so appointed) were filed separately in a series with the prefix 'DCC'.

Topics

Manufacturing

Railways

Research

Fishing

Forestry

Planning (Land and Property)

Sex and gender