Royal Commission on Powellised Timber
Royal Commission on powellised timber · Powellising Commission · Wood Powellising Commission
19 December 1913 – 8 October 1914
A commission of members of Parliament that inquired into the 'powellising' process for preserving timber, as used for sleepers on the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta (Trans-Australian) railway.
How it came into existence
Appointed by Letters Patent dated 19 December 1913, during the Cook government, after a House of Representatives select committee on powellised and other timbers had begun the inquiry earlier that session. Henry Gregory, member for Dampier, was chairman, and Reginald Burchell, member for Fremantle, was among its members. Its brief was the efficacy of the powellising process rather than the controversial contract for powellised karri sleepers.
Changes during its life
- 3 February 1914Interim report recommending 8-foot instead of 9-foot sleepers; laid before Parliament on 15 April 1914.
How it ended
Its final report was presented to Parliament on 8 October 1914, after which the commission ended. Its interim recommendation of February 1914 that shorter (8-foot rather than 9-foot) sleepers be used was later adopted for much of the railway.
Main functions
- Efficacy of the powellising process for preserving timber
- Suitability of powellised karri and other sleepers for the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta railway
- Sleeper specifications for the railway
Lineage
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