Source: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/resources/family-history/committees
Timestamp: 2017-04-26 09:48:55
Document Index: 323410149

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 5', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4']

Persons called before Queensland Government Committees: family history (State Library of Queensland)
Persons called before Queensland Government CommitteesDownload the PDF version of Persons called before Queensland Government Committees: family history info guide [PDF 84 kb]What was the role of those called before parliamentary committees?Those called before government committees were often invited because of their knowledge or expertise in the topic being discussed.Minutes of evidence of most of the early Queensland royal commissions, select committees and other government inquiries can be found in the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings (QLA V&P) (later known as the Queensland Parliamentary Papers). These inquiries covered a range of topics including education, mining, railway construction and the police force.SLQ holds the following indexes:Index to persons called before Queensland Government Committees - Part 1 (1860 - 1901)Index to persons called before Queensland Government Committees - Part 2 (1902 - 1920)Why would these records be of interest to family historians?A wide variety of people from different backgrounds and occupations were called to give evidence before these committees. They included farmers, graziers, publicans, seamen, miners, labourers, civil servants and railway employees.For family and local historians, an individual's transcript can often provide excellent background information on that person, that may not be available elsewhere. There is also the advantage of reading the person's view in their own words.Examples of evidenceExample oneOliver Crofts, called before the royal commission on the working conditions in Queensland shops, factories and workshops, supplied information on his occupation, place of birth and where he worked in England. More detail about his current working conditions is spelled out in the document. (Queensland Legislative Assembly. Votes and Proceedings. Volume 2, p. 1026-1029)What is your trade? "Draper's Assistant, Edward and Lamb's."How long have you been there? "Twelve months."Were you born in the colony? "No; in England."Were you in the trade before you came here? "Yes. I have been in it all my life. I was apprenticed to my father."How long have you been in Australia? "Four years."Where did you work at home? "With my father in Derbyshire."Have the long hours affected your health? "They have. I am frequently taken sick during the long hours on Saturday. I do not call the hours during the week too long."Example twoJohn Memonitch, called before the select committee appointed to inquire into the claim of John Memonitch for a reward as the discoverer of the Clermont Gold Field, gives us an idea of the uncertainty many had about their age. We can also tell he is interesting from the way he speaks. (Queensland Legislative Assembly. Votes and Proceedings. Volume 2, pp. 1026-1029)How old are you? "I could not say exactly to the minute. Over sixty, I believe."Are you the person claiming to have discovered Clermont Gold Field? "Yes, I am."When did you first go on the field? "I first discovered it about 1861, but I was there before."Did you report payable gold to anyone? "I reported to Mr. John Winter. I met Mr. Winter at Yaamba, and I gave him information that I had found good gold. He said "Keep quiet for goodness sake."And how many years have you been in the colony? "Thirty-six years."How are the indexes arranged?The indexes are arranged alphabetically by surname. Each entry provides the name and occupation of the witness, the name of the inquiry and the year, volume and page number of the Votes and Proceedings (Parliamentary Papers).Example:SurnameGiven name/sOccupation/otherCaseReferencePagesBroadEdwinBlacksmith and wheelwright in EskProposed railway extensions1900/v.3453The reference (year, volume and page numbers) refers to the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings [microfilm] (MFL 328.943) which are available in the Micrographics reading room on Level 3.List of committees of inquiriesChecklist of Royal Commissions, Select Committees of Parliament and Boards of Inquiry [Part 5 - Queensland, 1859-1960] (REF 016.35494023 1978 and FAMHIS 016.35394 1960-1978)This publication contains a list of some of the government committees held during Queensland's history. It includes a brief summary of the committee's evidence and what conclusions, if any, were reached. The list provides the year the committee's evidence was published in the Queensland Legislative Assembly Votes and Proceedings, the volume, and page numbers.Other State and Federal government committeesThe evidence to select committees, royal commissions and boards of inquiry held by the Federal Government and by other State Governments also appeared in their government publications.D.H. Borchardt's Checklist of Royal Commissions, Select Committees of Parliament and Boards of Inquiry (REF 016.35494093 1978) includes committees of the following governments:Part 1 Commonwealth of Australia, 1900-1950Part 2 Tasmania, 1856-1959Part 3 Victoria, 1856-1960Part 4 New South Wales, 1855-1960Download the PDF version of Persons called before Queensland Government Committees: family history info guide [PDF 84 kb]
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