CO129-590-11 Commission of Enquiry into irregularities in Immigration Departments 22-4-1941 - 19-12-1941 — Page 142

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as "cash with order" but which he could not identify and account

I even agreed to him keeping

for properly to the Treasury

those and bringing them to account when the permits were ulti- mately issued. For that I will probably bring down coals of fire from the Auditor on my head. But there was nothing else to be done at the time. I kept the Financial ecretary in-

formed of the position from time to time. lmost daily I ms in consultation with him, and I understand that he also informed the Colonial Secretary verbally of the unsatisfactory nature of the accounts. I don't remember the exact date on which the system of records for controlling the movements of permits round the office was recommended to the Immigration officer but it was some time between the end of November and the middle of

January.

Mr. Brown: You must have known well before the Ordinance actually

came into force that the system -

Bir rudney: .. was not as satisfactory us it might be.

. You did not make any actual report?

A. Not in writing until the middle of January. I hoped that by

the time the Ürdinance came into force things would have sorted

themselves out.

4. There was a ir. .J.3. Taylor. He was an accounting officer A. Yes. That is not the Treasury officer.

It was suggested that Mr. Forrest might have employed bin in You did not arranging an accountancy system straight away, specifically tell kr. Forrest that Mr. Taylor was an account-

ancy officer?

A. No. I assumed that he know the particular officer's record,

as he took him from the .0. and A. staff. I may have non- tioned it in conversation but I had no reason for telling him formally and officially, because the fact ms very well known

to the whole Service.

is it must be much easier for your Departent if these accounts are properly kept, I should think that you might have said,