On 13 February 1925, Charles Kingsley Thomas was appointed Royal Commissioner to inquire into and report upon the following matters:

1) The conditions under which the mining industry is carried on in Western Australia, and possible measures for the stimulation and improvement of economic production of minerals, with recommendations as to action best to be taken for such purpose;

2) Possible improvements in the mining equipment and practices in use in Western Australia for breaking out minerals and extracting them from the mines, with a view to increasing the profit obtainable from the richer material, and making it possible to increase production by extracting lower grade ores profitably;

3) Possible improvements in the metallurgical treatment of Western Australian metalliferous ores, and preparation and marketing of other useful minerals;

4) The better organisation of the mining proprietaries which have the direction and control of mining and treatment of minerals, and to make recommendations thereon and with regard to the possible combination or amalgamation of companies, and mining and milling plants, for the purposes of mining and treatment of minerals to better advantage; and

5) Improvement of existing practice in respect of betterment of health and welfare conditions of mine-workers.

The term "minerals" as referred to in the Royal Commission's terms of reference was to include gold and all other minerals within the meaning of that term in the Mining Act 1904.

The report of the Royal Commission was completed on 12 June 1925.