the Immigration Office about the end of September 1940,when Mr.
J.H.3.Lee, now one of my Deputy Immigration Officers, casually
mentioned it to me in a telephone conversation.
I would like to
91
emphasize that casualness with which the whole scheme was introduced.
That will be apparent from time to time as I proceed. I was at
the time Postmaster General, a post from which I was not finally
released until some date after 16th December, so that for four weeks
I was burdened with such of the work of that department as I could
afford time to undertake in adaition to the sole charge of a new
office. I made an early opportunity to call on the Colonial Secretary,
and ascertained that it was a fact that I was selected for the post;
shortly afterwards I got into touch with Mr. Middlebrook, and had the
benefit of several consultations with him, and of his assistance in
the choice of aurope an candidates for the position of asistant
Immigration Officer.
On 1st October I was officially designated as 1.0. and
obtained Government sanction to proceed with such preparations as
ordering furniture for the office, and making alterations in the
premises selected as Head Office and Depot. Preparations were held
up for a time, so far as regards entering into commitments on behalf
of Government, by doubt whether the Secretary of State would after
all approve the measure. On receiving H.c's assurance, communicated
to me by the Colonial Secretary, that the S. of s'e approval mi ht be
saaumed, I went ahead and, with Mr. Lee's assistance, concluded a
Lease of the premises now used as the Depot, and at length opened the
Head Office as soon as possible after the premises had been vacated
by the Assessor and certain minimum s tructural adaptations had been
ork in the new department started, so far as the public were
concerned, on 18th November. Of course, a very considerable amount of
preparatory work had been done even before that date, as it was
necessary to ensure an adequate supply of forms for use on the opening
date; in this connection I would refer once more to the difficulties
caused by delay on the part of Government printers to supply certain
forms. I ought to make it clear that I am convinced that Government
made.