On 20 August 1915, John Alfred Northmore was appointed Royal Commissioner to inquire into the control and management of the State Implement Works at Rocky Bay by the late Manager, John Charles Davies. The particular matters the Royal Commission was tasked to investigate were:

1) Whether there was any undue or unwarranted Ministerial interference with the management;

2) Whether there was, on the part of the said Manager a) irregularities in connection with the purchase of stores and the calling of tenders or quotations, or b) neglect in obtaining proper estimates and records of cost of the manufacture of implements; and

3) The circumstances that led up to the resignation of the said Manager.

The report of the Royal Commission was submitted on 20 October 1915.