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In 1901 Federal
Parliament opened in the Victorian Parliament House it would continue
to occupy until 1927 when the Federal Parliament House opened in
Canberra. Initially, however, Barton conducted government business
from an unpretentious office in Sydney before an office could be
found for him in Melbourne. Barton claimed that he could carry all
government business between the capital cities in a single Gladstone
bag. (Bolton, 2000, p. 229)
The Public Service
was yet to be established; in the early days the responsibilities
of administrating government procedure fell to the Prime Minister’s
Private Secretary. On the 13th of May Barton made the
following suggestion to his Private Secretary: ‘Will you keep a
little appointment book for me, which you might note up and show
me when we meet each day.’ (Barton Papers, Manuscript Collection)
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