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60
A.
A.
A.
A.
A.
Can you tell us why it was necessary to have such a large
amount on imprest account as $40,000?
The amount paid into the Treasury was about $20,000 a day and
withdrawn at approximately the same rate. But Treasury does not
make payments direct to the individuals concerned; the department
does that and they have to have cash to make payment first and
recover from the Treasury later. They pay out approximately
$20,000 a day and have to keep funds. They collect all deposit
receipts and send them in to the Treasury who pay them the next
day and so on. It was approximately two days' payments in the
Imprest Account.
Chairman: The only alternative is to use the revenue which comes
into your hands; and that is contrary to Regulations?
Yes.
Mr. Brown: This item of $20,000 which was paid in by the
Immigration Officer, would a position like that be possible to
clear up ultimately?
It should be possible to clear it up if all the records were
complete.
Chairman: If all the original records are complete you might be
able to reconstruct the position?
Yes.
Mr. Drummond: When you drew to the attention of Mr. Forrest the
requirements of your department, which after all are just
ordinary accounting requirements, what response did you get to
meet those requirements?
All the way through the excuse has been "no time," too many people
coming into the office" and "no staff."
Chairman: Mr. Pudney, I think it is more than likely that we
shall require further information from you. You will appreciate
the minutes which you know so thoroughly have been seen by us
for the first time this morning and we can hardly be expected
to be as conversant as you are so you will understand if we
ask you to come back again.