(EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO AFFAIRS OF
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT)
34.2
40.
Throughout the evidence we have heard we have been
struck by the unhelpful attitude towards Mr. Forrest and
his needs shown by some other departments and in particular
by the Treasury and the Secretariat. Mr. Forrest's
evidence to us lays great stress on this point, and, in
our opinion, rightly. The files which we have read, as
well as the oral evidence taken by us, show a marked inclina-
tion to let things alone, hoping against hope, no doubt,
that order would arise out of chaos. There is a noticeable
tendency to write mordant minutes compact of destructive
criticism where a little practical constructive advice would
greatly have ameliorated things. Mr. Pudney's argument
that because he has no disciplinary powers over other depart-
ments he is powerless to intervene does not impress us.
Kindness has always proved a more potent training force than
the threat of punishment for both children and animals: it
might with advantage be tried in the case of heads of government
departments.