George Vernon Dudley, 1924–1927 Dr Cecil Cook, North Australia, 1927–1931 William Lewis Fothergill, acting North Australia, 1930–1931 Robert Stott, Central Australia, 1927–1928 Charles Herbert Noblet, Central Australia, 1928–1929 Dr William Bruce Kirkland, Central Australia, 1929–1931 Dr Cecil Cook, 1931–1939 Dr William Bruce Kirkland, acting, 1935, 1936 Vincent John White, acting, 1937 Dr William Bruce Kirkland, acting, 1939 In 1939, the Native Affairs Branch was established by the passing of the Aboriginals Ordinance 1939. This heralded a new approach to native affairs, with Ernest Chinnery implementing ideas he had used in a similar role in New Guinea. Directors of Native Affairs: Ernest Chinnery, 1939–1946 Francis Herbert Moy, 1946–1953 Reginald Kevin McCaffery, acting, 1953–1954 The Welfare Branch replaced the Native Affairs Branch in 1954. This occurred as a result of the passing of the Welfare Ordinance 1953. This combined with the Wards Employment Ordinance 1953 removed many restrictions on people that were applied because they were deemed "half-castes", but now provided the NT government the power to apply the same restrictions on anyone they saw fit. They saw fit to apply these restrictions to all Aboriginal people. The Welfare Branch was reorganised, and operated as the Welfare Division from 1970 to 1972. Director of Welfare: Harry Giese, 1954–1972 The Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs was created on 19 December 1972. The work of the Welfare Division was absorbed by this department (and those of Health and Education) from 1972 until 1974. In 1974 the social welfare function was transferred to the Department of the Northern Territory. Other protectors Other protectors included: Rev John Francis Gilbart Huthnance (Roper River) TA Bradshaw (Alice Springs) JRB O'Sullivan (Daly River) Private S Roy Burston Dr Mervyn J Holmes James Thornton Beckett James Harcourt Kelly Robert McDonald Xavier Herbert, late 1920s? William Edward Harney, 1940–1947 Queensland The Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 was enacted to improve the life of Aboriginals through the control of their lives. To action this, the offices of Northern Protector of Aboriginals and Southern Protector of Aboriginals were created in 1898. They continued until 1904. Frances Meston, the wife of the first Southern Protector, provided protective services to Aboriginal women without payment. This was recognised through the creation of the paid role "Protector of Aboriginals (Female)" in 1899. On 25 March 1904, the Office of the Chief Protector of Aboriginals was created. Queensland was divided into protectorates,