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23.
(b) It commences on 25th January and continues in force until terminated by either party by three months notice in writing.
(c) The agent shall keep such books of account as the Immigration Officer shall prescribe.
(d) The agent shall open a special current account for the purposes of the agreement.
(e) The agent shall have powers of supervision over all existing agencies and shall have the right to establish a photographic studio on the premises of any one of them.
(f) No existing agency shall deal with the Immigration Department direct but only through the General Agent.
(g) The agent shall charge a fee of one dollar to each applicant which shall include the cost of two passport type photographs.
(h) The agent shall employ an approved firm of auditors and a representa- tive of such firm shall countersign all cheques drawn on the special banking
account.
On 30th January a supplemental agreement was executed by Mr. Forrest and Mr. Kobza which extends the term of the original agreement to five years from 25th January, 1941, or the lifetime of the Immigration Office or the period of faithful per- formance of the terms of the agreement, whichever shall be the shortest.
24. Mr. Forrest's explanation of his motives for so varying the original agreement are decidedly cryptic, and we therefore quote his own words:
Mr. Woo:
I note from the agreement that originally either party could terminate the agreement by giving three months notice. A few days after the conclusion of the agreement a supplementary agreement was executed whereby the term is extended to a period of five years.
Mr. FORREST :
Yes, with certain exceptions.
Q. What were the circumstances which made it necessary to extend the agreement?
A. I had become aware of a sponsored movement against the general agency system which was founded on no good reason that word I use advisedly because in fact I think it was founded on very bad reasons. It had its origin amongst the people whom I have qualified as disappointed racketeers and I wished to ensure that that agreement was not upset if that movement gathered force.
CHAIRMAN:
Q. What exactly do you mean? You and Mr. Kobza are the parties to the agreement. Under the agreement as it originally stood, notice was to be given either by Mr. Kobza or by you. There was no third party who could intervene and bring that agreement to an end. You became aware of this sponsored movement against the
also aware general agency system but you were
from the outset that it was inspired by wicked and corrupt motives. Therefore you were not going to be swayed or influenced by it in any way?
A. It put me in a difficult position. I was afraid people higher in the Service might
be swayed by this, might weaken in response to the public clamour.
Q. You were afraid someone in a position to give orders to you might be influenced and order you to bring the agreement to an end; and so, rather than report what you knew and place your facts on record, you took this rather radical step of giving a five years' term?
A. Yes, I am not sure that I had not by that time reported this ramp in the papers.
I am not sure that I have the date here.
25. Mr. Forrest's suggestion that after the decision of the Governor in Council His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government at a meeting at Government House on 9th January authorized Mr. Forrest to conclude any such agreement with a General Agent is categorically denied by the Honourable the Colonial Secretary:-
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