CO129-590-11 Commission of Enquiry into irregularities in Immigration Departments 22-4-1941 - 19-12-1941 — Page 148

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already explained in my momorơn àm this morning. And in the

same day I made an agreement in a more formal manner with the

general agent, as a means of co-ordinating the existing agencies

and remedying what I conceived to be the evils of competition

between them.

Chairman:

Those previously existing agencies were accountable to you

as Immigration Officer/

Mr. Forrest: In no sense,

A

A

Such monies as they had they paid to you?

They did, but they were accountable to their clients, not to

me, if they did not do the things their clients paid them

for doing.

What happened to the monies which they collected on socount

of fees?

In the majority of cases they paid them in to me. in a small

number of cases they made away with them. It was to protect

the public against such things I thought that a general agency

would be valuable,

and to that general agency you have delegated the task of

accounting with the subordinate agencies, the other agents?

No, not accounting.

If they have monies, do they not under this agreement take

that money to the general agent?

Yes. Those things are incidental, however. That is not the

main purpose. The main purpose of the agreement was that I should have in each agency, or attached somehow to each agency,

some person independent of it and in relation with me, who

could supervise the methods used,

It was clearly understood, both to you and by ar, Kobza, that

he was in no sense your agent?

11 the time, certainly by me.