A COMPENSATION CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1903, Page 5

A COMPENSATION CLAIM.

SOME PLAIN SPEAKING

(Received 8.22 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

A syndicate headed by Sir Somers Vine, which sonui years ago obtained large land concessions in. New Guinea with the -object of rubber-growing, but which were subsequently revoked, owing to stroug objections by the New Soutli Wales and Victorian Governments, are pressing the Federal Government for the payment of £4.000 compensation for surrendering the conee.s- ,- sion. The correspondence! shows that Mr Chamberlain undertook to urge the State Governments interested to honorably meet their obligations ir. the matter, and that, the Agents-General state that the Government representatives appointed to inquire had recommended ti'O payment of compensation, and that >&;• Edmund Barton, when in London, New Guinea being mentioned as having been taken over by the Commonwealth, promised to use his best efforts to obtain a settlement. The syndicate strongly complains of the delay and disinclination to meet an admitted obligation. Sir Somers Vine says he doubts if the annals of the Colonial Governments disclose a more disgraceful repudiation of a solemn agreement, or a more shocking breach of good faith than in the action by New South Wales and Victorian Governments, while the Queensland Government had previously expressed its willingness to pay its share.