H. —25

8

23. Repatriated Dalmatians. —The High Commissioner has now almost completed the release of the amounts held by him on behalf of the Dalmatians repatriated from New Zealand, who are entitled to the release of their property upon production of satisfactory evidence that they have acquired the nationality of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. According to his latest advice the High Commissioner held the sum of £577 Bs. 2d. in respect of such persons, the amount being held pending replies to applications made to the Serb-Croat-Slovene Legation at London for evidence of identity or for information regarding the next-of-kin"of deceasedj)almatians. Amounts released from the Provisions of the War Regulations and the Treaty of Peace Order, 1920. 24. The following statement shows the amounts which have been released from the provisions of the War Regulations and the Treaty of Peace Order, 1920, on the undermentioned grounds, for payment to the persons beneficially entitled thereto, or to their authorized agents. These figures comprise only the amounts which have actually been refunded by the Custodian, and do not include the value of the properties in regard to which the power to retain and liquidate has not been exercised (e.g., assets belonging to internees or other ex-enemy nationals who have been permitted to remain in the Dominion, certain property belonging to British-born wives of German nationals, &c.). Payments made in respect of claims established by New|Zealand nationals have not been included in this statement: — (1.) Amounts belonging to persons or firms who have submitted satisfactory £ s. d. documentary evidence that they possessed prior to the outbreak of war British, Allied, or neutral nationality .. .. .. .. 15,036 7 4 During the war all persons resident in enemy territory, or enemy occupied territory, irrespective of their nationality, Were, regarded as enemies for the purpose of the War Regulations, and consequently all amounts payable to them during the war were required to be paid to the Custodian of Enemy Property. On the conclusion of peace the necessary steps were taken to release the amounts belonging to British, Allied, and neutral subjects. (2.) Amounts belonging to persons of former enemy nationality who have acquired the nationality of an Allied or Associated Power under one of the principal Treaties of Peace .. .. .. .. .. 3,413 811 These persons are entitled to the release of their property in accordance with the express terms of the various Treaties of Peace. (3.) Amounts belonging to British-born subjects who lost their British nationality on marriage, and who, subsequent to the coming into force of the Treaty of Peace, have been renaturalized as British subjects .. 29,342 19 1 These moneys have been released in accordance with the policy of the Imperial authorities in connection with similar cases in the United Kingdom. (4.) Amounts belonging to British-born wives of German nationals .. 1,846 5 2 (5.) Proceeds of investments representing savings from earnings made in New Zealand by German nationals who were not at the outbreak of the war permanently resident in the Dominion and who are now in necessitous circumstances .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,028 3 9 (6.) Compassionate releases upon grounds other than (3), (4), and (5) above 697 7 10 (7.) Moneys belonging to aliens who were interned during the war, and/or who were repatriated from New Zealand at their own request or otherwise 40,254 15 5 (8.) Moneys belonging to the German Church Trust at Christchurch, released in pursuance of an Order in Council dated 23rd April, 1923, made under section 54 of the Reserves andjother Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1922 .. .. .. .. .. .. 971 15 2 (9.) Amounts transferred for disposal by the Commonwealth Clearing Office, the liquidator of the English Branch of an enemy company, or in accordance with the Ex-enemy Absentee Property (Samoa) Order, 1923 1,171 1 0 (10.) Amounts transferred to Consolidated Fund : — (a.) Proceeds of realty acquired by a German subject which was forfeited and declared by the Supreme Court to be vested in the Public Trustee in trust for His Majesty the King under section sof the £ s . d. War Legislation Act, 1917 . . .. .. 520 4 5 (b.) Sundry amounts where the legal or beneficial owners could not be traced .. .. .. 1,741 19 1 2,262 3 6 (11.) Miscellaneous releases .. .. .. .. .. 628 11 11 £98,652 19 i. «