Wives And Land

New Guinea's Basic Records Reported Lost

rERE was consternation among New Guinea people—especially women— when it became known that all records of births, marriages and deaths which have occurred in New Guinea in recent years, disappeared into enemy hands when the Japanese occupied Rabaul.

It is feared that valuable records relating to land ownership also have been lost.

The absence of such records may lead to embarrassing and difficult situations.

It is understood that the Australian Gov ernment proposes to introduce some law or regulation to cover the position— something that will allow a man to prove title to his land, and a lady to prove title to her husband, even although the basic documents cannot be produced.