CO129-590-11 Commission of Enquiry into irregularities in Immigration Departments 22-4-1941 - 19-12-1941 — Page 296

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Immigration Department?

Yes. No accountant was being used, but there was one attached to the

department.

In fact there was no active accountant in the department. By

implication you recommended that an accountant was desirable?

Yes.

Did you therefore recommend that Government should take steps to

supply me with an accountant?

I recommended that Mr. A.J.G. Taylor, already in your department,

should be used as an accountant.

In the same report?

It may not have been in the same report, but it was about the same

time, in connection with the same report.

In the minute you expressed doubt whether Mr. Taylor could be

spared from other duties?

A. I don't think I expressed doubt.

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General

Did you not say "IP". It was your duty under Government Orders to

see a proper system of accounting in force in every department. What

steps were in fact taken by the authorities to whom you reported this

state of affairs?

At this time I can do no more than refer to the minutes in the file.

Not being a member of the C.S.0. I don't know what goes on up there. Did you find there was an immediate improvement after that report

was made?

I found things were improved after Mr. A.J.G. Taylor took over there. Surely it was your business, since the duty of seeing to the proper accounting is laid upon you, to follow up your report?

Yes.

And in other words prompt the Colonial Secretary and Financial

Secretary to some action - don't you think so?

A.

I endeavoured to do so. I can't give them orders;

on pegging away at them.

I can only go