CO129-575-5 Passport Office- authorisation for writing off deficiencies 31-3-1939 - 19-3-1940 — Page 34

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(c) 19 receipts had been issued in respect of

Visa applications the forms for which are

missing. The amount represented by the se

receipts is $203.26. (Enclosure IV to report).

With regard to item (c) it is possible that some, if not

all, of these receipts relate to certain of the missing

forms reported as missing under (b), but even if the

whole sun is set off against the $1,100 mentioned, there

would remain a substantial balance unaccounted for. It

is not possible to set off any item under (c) against

the deficiencies recorded under (a).

3.

These deficiencies may have been caused by one

or more of three irregularities, that is, failure to

bring to account fees actually received, failure to

collect fees properly due from applicants and the simple

mis-laying or abstraction of forms. It is not possible

to say with certainty exactly how much of the deficiencies

is accounted for by these various irregularities, but it

may be regarded as practically certain that there has

been loss of revenue to the amounts stated in (a) and (c)

above and probably sone additional loss under (b). There

can be little doubt that Mr. Witchell was responsible

for the whole of these irregularities, although if a

proper system of control in the Passport Office had

existed it should not have been possible for an officer

in Mr. Witchell's position to commit them. Improvements

in the system of control have now been introduced on the

advice of the Auditor; final details are not yet

completely agreed upon and I will report further when a

final agreement has been reached.

26. The information received shows that Mr. Witchell

is now in Canada and without means. The possibility of