Royal Commission on the Coal Industry

After the northern colliery owners locked out miners on 2 March 1929 over a proposed wage cut, a conference in Canberra discussed a royal commission, and the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments appointed one in June 1929 (the Commonwealth Letters Patent are dated 3 June 1929) to inquire into the coal industry, including the costs of production. It was chaired by Justice Colin George Watt Davidson. The Commonwealth paid half of its costs.

1. 30 August 1929The commission was taking evidence in camera on production costs and was expected to make an interim report on that subject.

The Scullin government said in November 1929 that the report was to be furnished by 31 December 1929. The report was printed by the New South Wales Government in 1930; in June and July 1930 the Prime Minister was still waiting for copies to distribute to members. The lockout ended in mid-1930 with the miners returning on the owners' terms. The date the report was signed was not found. The Parliamentary Handbook gives 21 November 1929 as the date the final report was presented.

• Inquiry into the condition and organisation of the coal industry
• Costs of coal production (evidence on costs was taken in camera)
• Wages and industrial conditions in the industry

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Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.