CO129-590-11 Commission of Enquiry into irregularities in Immigration Departments 22-4-1941 - 19-12-1941 — Page 92

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copy attached

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rests on hearsay, though on very consistent hearsay; but there is no hearsay in the reasons for which I saw fit to withdraw recog- nition previously accorded to certain of the agencies; I am handing in a papar recording the reasons which led me to take this step, anİ shall only add that the action was taken in each case only after production to me, through police detectives or otherwise, of good and sufficient evidence of the malpractices which I held proved. That paper I have a copy of here but I have not had time yet to make the full number of copies required for the Commission. The ChairmGAN I You will let us have that Mr. Forrest please.

Forresti For the reason that in some cases persons of repute

in the Colony were associated with certain of these agencies which I thus in effect closed, and because I have every reason to believe that these persons were not themselves aware of the misconduct áf their employees which resulted in the withdrawal of recognition, I

forbear to read out the list in a public sitting.

I should perhaps have explained before going so far that

the change in my attitude to the agencies was gradual.

At one tima

I stated in an interview given to the press that recognition as an agency would be freely given to anyone who would undertake to

hall submit for observe certain conditions, a copy of which I completeness of record; about the same time I wrote to the Colonial Secretary with reference to applications from certain persons for monopolistic positions in regard to submission of applications to

The minutes are to be read my office deprecatin; any such grant.

in C...0.2863/40.

I persevered, therefore, in my policy of according recognition to such firas and individuals as seemed to be reputable and themselves sufficiently qualified to undertake the work of completing and submitting in proper for applications on behalf of illiterate or ignorant persons. In spite of that policy I in one

evening signed 49 letters of refusal of recognition; the numbers of applicants for recognition being, I think, ample proof of the

profitableness of that form of enterprise.

axperience of their