Secret Service Money Secret Service Money

Memo Police department CHIEF COMMISSIONERS OFFICE, Melbourne, 10th Feby 1880 On the receipt of the Honble Chief Secretarys verbal instructions to that effect, I at once directed Mr. Nicolson to discontinue any further expenditure in the way of secret service money to agents in the N. E. District. Mr. Nicolson at once came down to Melbourne to see me on Saturday last in the hope of having an interview with Mr. Barry who however did not come to his office on that day. Being unable to remain in Melbourne, Mr. Nicolson at my suggestion embodied his views in the attached report wh I now beg to submit for Mr. Barrys perusal & consideration. I cannot but think that a limited expenditure of that nature is very necessary; it is kept within reasonable bounds & if the Department was internaly debarred from employing agents to obtain information of the movements of the outlaws, greater difficulties would be thrown in our way. I therefore beg to impose a hope that Mr. Nicolson may still be empowered to impart a moderate amount [My objection to the secret service expenditure does not extend as to far as to forbid all such charges lent. I think funds use should be very carefully dealt with. Perhaps Mr Nicolson will state what real value the Police have ..service expenditure] (not readable) The Honble. The Chief Secretary