Royal Commission to Inquire into and Report upon the Contract or Contracts with Abbco Bread Co. Pty. Limited for the Supply of Bread to the Department of the Army, and Other Matters

On 26 March 1941 the Minister for the Army, P. C. Spender, announced that a commission would issue the next day to Justice Allan Victor Maxwell of New South Wales, sitting as a federal royal commissioner. The terms covered the company's conviction at Glebe on 20 June 1940 for supplying short-weight loaves, the new contract later made with it, inquiries into its record, the system of checking Army bread supplies, the selection of the personnel concerned, any negligence or improper conduct by contractors or Army personnel, and co-ordination between the Department of the Army and the Department of Supply and Development on contractors' bona fides. Allegations that Claude Massey, chairman of the defence services foodstuffs committee, had sought bribes were also examined.

1. 26 March 1941Terms of the commission announced in the House of Representatives.
2. 21 August 1941Report tabled in the House of Representatives.

The report was laid before the House of Representatives on 21 August 1941. In debate the Opposition described it as condemning fraudulent practices and criticising the letting and supervision of large defence contracts; the allegations against Massey were dismissed. In debate it was described as covering the second and third royal commissions on the Abbco contract (a state royal commission having been the first), both conducted by Maxwell. The Parliamentary Handbook gives 21 August 1941 as the date the final report was presented.

• Army bread contracts with Abbco Bread Co. Pty Ltd
• Checking of Army bread supplies
• Conduct of contractors and Army personnel
• Co-ordination of contract information between the Army and Supply departments

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