VPRS 12805 Minutes, Railways Commissioners' Conference (Australian and New Zealand Railways)

This series consists of minutes of the meetings of the Railway Commissioners' of Australian states (colonies to 1901) and New Zealand. The series began in 1898 when the Commissioners' resolved that they would, 'meet in conference each year, and that the conference should be held alternatively in the capital of each colony.' The first meeting consisted of Commissioners' from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. A West Australian Commissioner first attended in 1899, Tasmanian in 1900, a member of the Commonwealth Railways from 1921and a New Zealand representative by 1945.It was also resolved at the inaugural meeting that the heads of the Locomotive, Permanent Way and Traffic Departments of each colony should meet not less than four weeks prior to the Commissioners' Conference each year. These were known as Officers' Conferences. Foremost of the various issues to be raised by these departments were the ultimate unification of the gauges and the adoption of the 4 ft 8 1/2 in. gauge, and the encouragement of inter-colonial as against sea traffic. Generally however minutes related to a wide spectrum of the railway's activities.The minutes of the respective officers' meetings were included with the Commissioners' minutes. From 1974 these were referred to as Special Conferences.The P1 consignment consists of printed copies. The originals have not been identified.