WAR DAMAGE LOSS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 42, 19 February 1943, Page 5

WAR DAMAGE LOSS

CLAIMS FROM THE PAR EAST

The British Government has given a decision in the matter cf compensation for losses ana .damage sustained in ail Eastern terrttorto* « a result of war. A general claim for compensa tion was submitted to the Office oy a number of groups, representative of the Eastern Exchange Bank, interests in Burma and Hons Kong, the Malayan Chambei o£ M^; fr^5 ld organisations of the rubber and tin ta<dustries The Government does not admit a direct liability for all- kinds of war damage or less , eve " *5® United Kingdom. There is every desire to apply the principle of spreading the incidence of loss to the overseas territories for which th« Government is responsible. In practice, IJ*"® Government has to consider potentially enormous elnlms on their resources for reconstruction, h) cl uding reconstruction in the Empire. Both the claims and the resources are at present beyond calculation. The first call on post-war resources, the statement goes on, will be for reconstructing of productive equipment and financing recpening of productive enterprises; this must ■ have precedence over past losses. Claims on the war risk insurance schemes in Burma' and Malaya are to be met "on due verification on the reoccupation ox the territories"; and the Government as at present advised." intends to see that the Burman and Malayan Governments shall be in a financial position to carry out their specific liabilities. As for ths much more important amount of property and gocds not included in the insurance schemes, the Government merely promises to give what assistance it can in conjunction with any common fund or organisation which may be established for post-war reconstruction.