ENEMY PROPERTY

Evening Star, Issue 19023, 19 August 1925, Page 10

ENEMY PROPERTY

AFTER WAR LIQUIDATION POSITION OF THE CLAIMS. [By Our. Parliamentary Eei-ortek.] V\ ELLINGTON, August IS. '■ Jt i.s only fair to admit that during tlie past, year tlio German clearing office lias shown a growing tendency to doa.l expeditiously with communications despatched from this office. The result of this is reflected in the large reduction which has been rnado during the past year in the number and value of outstanding clearing office claims,” reports the Public Trustee in his capacity as custodian of enemy property in Now Zealand. “ Considerable progress has been made in finalising those transactions, but another year will elapse before matters are complete. The total amount credited to the Gorman liquidation account up to March 31, 1925, in respect to German property rights and interests in the dominion was £185,187. Six credits totalling £GOB have, with the concurrence of the German authorities, been withdrawn from the amount credited to the Austrian liquidation. This account was £923. In addition, the sum of £489 is held, which will be credited to this account upon receipt of additional information from the High Commissioner. The Public Trustee has released £93,652 which has been hold as alien enemy property, £40,254 of this sum having been paid to interned aliens who, since the war, have been repatriated. The net balance, being the proceeds of Gcnnan-Austrian property liquidated in Now Zealand, and held by the Public Trustee, is £246,325. Claims by New Zealanders against this property total _ £53,034, of which £22,654 is admitted by the German clearing house, £29,279 lias been withdrawn, and £II,OOO is still under action. German nationals lodged claims against New Zealanders to the amount of £210,177, but claims for £158,051 have been withdrawn. £29,412 is admitted by New Zealand, and £21,471 is under action.

The archives of the German and Austrian Consulates in New Zealand, which were handed to the Public Trustee for safe custody during the war, are still hold pending receipt of directions from the Governments concerned. CLAIMS AGAINST RUSSIA.

Tho total of claims against the Russian Government, or persons or' firms or companies resident in Russia, registered with tho New Zealand clearing office is now £15,2-34; hut the treaty following tho Anglo-Soviet Conference was not ratified by Parliament, and there have been no later developments regarding the claims. The matter is at present solely one of registration. GERMAN PROPERTY IN SAMOA. Considerable progress has been made by tho Samoan authorities in the direction of the disposal of German plantations which have been retained by the New Zealand Government. Approximately four-fifths in number, though not in value, of those estates have been disposed of, chiefly by lease: and as the values to he placed upon these properties can now be readily assessed, liquidation schedules for transmission to the German Government for the purpose of enabling it to compensate its nationals are in course of preparation, and should be completed in the near future. The remaining plantations, comprising the larger and more valuable properties, have been advertised for lease to private planters. Where suitable tenders are not obtained it is proposed to assess their values, taking into consideration all relevant factors (including, of course, any tenders received but not accepted). It is, therefore, anticipated that all liquidation schedules in regard to Samoa will bo completed in tho near future. The Now Zealand Government has continued to apply the proceeds received from Crown estates in payment, so far as required, of services necessitated in compliance with the Mandate obligations. “ Tins is a very substantial and goneious concession,” comments the Public Trustee.