CO129-590-11 Commission of Enquiry into irregularities in Immigration Departments 22-4-1941 - 19-12-1941 — Page 277

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Q. In that letter I said that I welcomed the suggestion, or words

to that effect. I asked you to do nothing to prevent such an

inquiry?

A. That is on record,

•

I professed I was entirely ready for it? That is all.

Chairman: Mr. Smith, there is one point on which Mr. Forrest has

not touched. You will remember that after he had made certain

proposals for a monopoly, either a photographic monopoly or a secretarial monopoly, or a combination of the two, the question went before the Governor in Council and the note which we have

of the decision taken by that body is this, "It was agreed that the proposed long term monopoly should not be granted but that

there would be no objection to the selection of a few authorized

agencies by the method of tender, on short term contracts."

Mr. Forrest has said in answer to questions by myself and my

brother Commissioners, that that decision was not strictly

observed for the reason that in a subsequent discussion between

H.E. the 0.A.G., yourself and Mr. Forrest, it was freely under- stood and conceded that it would not be necessary for Mr. Forrest, in the best interests of the Department, strictly to adhere to

that decision.

Mr. Forrest: I don't think that was exactly what I said.

Now,

Chairman: That is the recollection in my mind. Perhaps you would

put it -

Mr. Smith: This was at a very much later stage: I think fairly

recently.

Chairman: The decision was on 24th December.

Mr. Smith: In Executive Council.

Mr. Forrest: This meeting must have been fairly early in January.

Chairman: In any case it was before the 22nd of January when the

agreement with Hir. Kobza was executed. Have you any recollection

of a discussion there in which the possibility of the appointment