Sir William James Clemens, (27 March 1873 – 4 September 1941) was a senior Australian public servant, best known for his service to the Commonwealth Public Service Board.

Life and career

Clemens was born at Spring Creek, Beechworth, Victoria on 27 March 1873. His parents were James and Catherine Clemens. Clemens joined the Victorian Public Service in 1899. In 1901, the year of Federation, Clemens transferred into the

Commonwealth Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the Go ...

. In June 1928, Clemens was appointed

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

of the

Department of Home and Territories The Department of Home and Territories was an Australian government department that existed between November 1916 and December 1928. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found ...

, and later that year Secretary of the

Department of Home Affairs An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...

. In 1929, Clemens was appointed third commissioner of the Public Service Board. In 1931, he was appointed sole Public Service Commissioner after the retirement of W.J. Skewes as Chairman of the Public Service Board. In 1937, Clemens retired from the public service. In 1938, the Australian Government appointed Clemens to conduct an inquiry into the high

cost of living Cost of living is the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living. Changes in the cost of living over time can be operationalized in a cost-of-living index. Cost of living calculations are also used to compare the cost of maintaining a cer ...

in Canberra. As part of the inquiry, Clemens was tasked with investigating why the costs of meat, vegetables, milk, groceries and other food in Canberra was much higher than in other nearby cities. While the inquiry was not a Royal Commission, Clemens was still granted the powers to call witnesses, take evidence under oath, and demand the production of books and documents. His report, delivered in March 1939, in six sections, recommended administrative action against monopolies controlling supply in the ACT. Clemens died in Melbourne on 4 September 1941, following an operation.

Awards and honours

Clemens was appointed a

Companion of the Imperial Service Order The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a pe ...

in June 1925 whilst Secretary of the Public Service Board. In June 1934, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services as Commissioner of the Commonwealth Service Board. In 1937 he was made a

Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are th ...

. In November 2004, a street in Canberra's central business district was named William Clemens Street in Clemens' honour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemens, William 1873 births 1941 deaths Australian Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Australian Knights Bachelor Australian public servants Deaths from cancer in Victoria (Australia) Australian Companions of the Imperial Service Order 20th-century Australian public servants