CITIZENS VANISH

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 August 1942, Page 5

CITIZENS VANISH

darwin

SYDNEY, _ August 8

At least 200 former Darwin residents entitled to payment for goods or homes which have been impressed by the Army have made no claims on the Government nor have they left any record of their whereabouts, states a “Sydney Morning Herald” correspondent. Mr Harry G. Aiderman, an Adelaide barrister, who is in Darwin investigating the condition of civil property in the area on behalf of the Government, said his mission represented a genuine endeavour by the Government to get comprehensive details of the whereabouts of all civilian property so that it could arrange equitable payments for impressments and could formulate a policy on damage. “My preliminary survey shows that many goods which owners claim have been looted have been correctly impressed by the Army,” he said. Army records show that the Army has been properly impressing goods and houses, but has been unable to trace a large percentage of owners. “I have found that strict measures arc being taken to prevent any looting-” The South Australian Controller oi War Damage, Mr Keith Bentzen, wiaa staff of 15 assessors and valuers, is making a complete valuation of ail fixed property in Darwin and assessing damage already caused by enemy action. This commission also is handicapped because people left the area without indicating where they were going, and few former house owners have made claims for damage.