CO129-590-11 Commission of Enquiry into irregularities in Immigration Departments 22-4-1941 - 19-12-1941 — Page 267

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Second Court, 2.30 p.m.

Mr. Forrest: May I be permitted to make a few remarks?

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Chairman:

Certainly.

Mr. Forrest: The first item in the charges which have been levelled

against the Department and which has most seriously moved me, is the

allegation of personal discourtesy on my part. I had hitherto been

under the impression that my manners had been above reproach. I do

not mean that on occasions I have not been rude to people, but one of

the definitions of a gentleman is a man who is never unintentionally

rude. I am not prepared at this time of day to debate whether I was

justified in being rude on any particular occasion three months ago,

but that it is not my habitual attitude towards the general public can

be easily proved. I have here a list of some 12 persons, who are not

members of my staff, personal friends, or connected with me in any way,

whom I can call to prove that I have at all times treated the public

with courtesy. These are persons with whom I have had casual official

dealings, and I request the Commission, if it is felt that further

evidence is required, to select one or two names from this list.

Chairman: There has been no suggestion, Mr. Forrest, from the public

es a whole that you are habitually bad-tempered or lacking in manners.

Mr. Forrest: In that case I do not wish to press the point.

Mr. H. R. Sequeira of Dr. J w. barnes's office:-

On the morning of the 30th January, 1941, at 11 a.m. I went with

my sister-in-law and a female servant to Kobza's office, yndham Street

and was told by one of his Chinese employees to go to Kobza's office in

the Immigration Office, Marina House to have her finger-prints taken as

my servant could not write. I was directed by the same employee to

enter the Department by the side-door.

Chairman: "hich door was that?

Mr. Sequeira:

They called it the side door but actually it was the

back door. I gained admittance through the said door, but my sister-

in-law and servant were refused admittance and told to remain outside

by the door-keeper. I walked into the Immigration Office and there

interviewed one of the employees (Mr. Maher). I asked him if the

servant could come in in order to have her finger prints taken. The

eloyee granted my request and my sister-in-law and the servant were