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Chairman: Mr. Smith, Mr.
Mr. Smith, Mr.
Forrest has asked us to get you here in
order that he may put some questions to you.
Mr. Forrest: Mr. Smith, you will understand I endeavour to avoid
any offence as far as possible in these questions but I am definitely going on the line that I have not had the backing from the Secretariat that I could have expected in a very difficult proposition. I endeavour to spare individuals as far as possible, having in my mind the difficult conditions under which we are all working. I am not the only one in the Colony, as I well know, who has been over-worked lately. You remember that ever since the office opened I have made visits to you in which I spoke to you, sometimes very excitedly, on the question
of lack of staff?
Mr. N.L.Smith:
Certainly.
3. And I think our records in the C.S.0. files, which you have seen,
show that those visits and the same complaints continued during your two absences during the winter, when Mr. North took your
place?
A. I think that is quite likely. I could verify that.
Q. You may remember seeing one minute, for instance, written by
A.
q.
Mr. North himself in which he said, "We seem to have very little
straw for our bricks."
I do.
I reported in very strong terms at various times, in writing I mean, that I was afraid that something serious might go wrong if I could not get certain things done? For the moment it is not necessary to specify what things.
A. Yes, i have that impression. I cannot give chapter and verse.
Finally - I do not remember the dates; the Commission have them
already
·
S
when the Accountant-General and later the Auditor
reported to Government certain failings in the accounting system
in my office
A.
Yes, I remember I have seen that.
Q. On receipt of those reports, was any person from the Secretariat,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.