Department of Supply and Shipping
17 October 1942 – 6 April 1948
Previously Department of Supply and Development (1939–1942).
Wartime and post-war Department of State responsible for defence supply and procurement together with control of shipping, navigation and lighthouses, liquid fuel and strategic materials.
Names over time
- Department of Supply and Development1939–1942
- Department of Supply and Shipping1942–1948
How it came into existence
Formed on 17 October 1942, when the Department of Supply and Development was renamed and expanded, with J. A. Beasley as minister. It added control of shipping and the navigation and lighthouse services, previously administered by the Department of Commerce.
- Defence supply and procurement
- Liquid fuel control
- Strategic materials and mineral resources
- Shipping control
- Navigation and lighthouses
How it ended
Abolished on 6 April 1948. Shipping, navigation and fuel passed to the new Department of Shipping and Fuel, and supply, disposals and mineral resources to the new Department of Supply and Development (1948), which also absorbed the Department of Munitions.
- Shipping
- Navigation and lighthouses
- Coal and liquid fuel
- Defence supply and procurement
- Disposals
- Mineral resources (Bureau of Mineral Resources)
Main functions
- Procurement of supplies and equipment for the armed services
- Control of shipping and operation of Commonwealth-owned and chartered ships
- Navigation services, coastal lights and aids to navigation
- Liquid fuel control and rationing
- Stockpiling of strategic materials
- Mineral resources survey (Bureau of Mineral Resources from 1946)
- Disposal of surplus war property
Bodies in this portfolio (2)
- Shipping Control Board 1940–1947
- Mineral Resources Survey 1941–1946
Lineage
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Sources
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.