VPRS 3992 Inward Registered Correspondence III

This series consists of inward correspondence received by the Chief Secretary's Department. The contents of the series derive from the nature of the functional responsibilities of the office. In 1855 the central role of the Colonial Secretary had passed to the Chief Secretary whose department co-ordinated, in addition to the departmental branches, a wide variety of other agencies not specifically assigned to other Ministers. The Department also co-ordinated the policy of government and acted as a channel of communication between departments. As departmental and ministerial arrangements were formalised during the second half of the nineteenth century, other ministerial departments came to act more independently. Chief Secretary's remained, however, the principal omnibus department and its Minister was head of government exclusively until 1874. See text for VRG 26 and VA 475 in the Summary Guide 1990 for a more detailed explanation of the role and functional responsibilities of this office. For the period covered by this correspondence series the Chief Secretary was responsible for the following functions: - Aborigines 1855-1856 and 1860-1968 - Animal Protection to 1979 - Cemeteries 1888-1890 - Census, Statistics and Registration Functions to 1979 - Elections 1855-1979 - Health 1855-1944, including Mental Health - Immigration 1900-1904 and 1947-1971 - Labour and Industry to 1916 - Libraries and Galleries 1855-1972/3, Museums 1855-1976 - Liquor and Theatre Licensing - Police and Emergency Services 1855-1979 - Prisons and Social Welfare 1855-1970 - Royal Botanic Gardens and Herbarium - Sport, Recreation, Racing and Gaming to 1972 - Crimes Compensation Tribunal 1972-1979 - Explosives 1901-1965 - Fisheries and Wildlife 1913-1973 - Government Shorthand Writers to 1979 - Land Tax to 1884 - Mercantile Marine Office and Marine Board of Victoria (VA 1424) 1901-1927 - Motor Accident Board (VA 1055) 1973-1979 - Motor Accident Tribunal 1973-1979 - Royal Melbourne Zoo to 1973 - State Classification of Publications Board to 1979 - State Insurance Office (VA 1033) its predecessor State Motor Car Insurance Office (VA 2893) 1941-1975 and State Accident Insurance Office to 1979 - Valuations to 1960 - Victorian Archaeological Survey to 1975 - Weights and Measures to 1965 - Workers Compensation to 1978