Direct & "Consequential”

A Fantastic

Distinction

War Damage

HAVING failed to secure any promise of help in any other direction, the Pacific Territories Association is addressing to Mr. Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, an appeal against the offi cial decision that compensation for dam age suffered in New Guinea will not be paid for “consequential war damage”— that is, looting, and destruction and deterioration caused by the evacuation of owners and caretakers.

This. matter is of vital importance to hundreds of people who were compelled by the invasion to leave everything they nossessed in New Guinea. Their chief hope, now, of becoming re-established in life is that the Australian Government will insist on a less harsh and unjust interpretation of the regulations govern ing war damage compensation.

The official distinction between “actual” and “consequential” damage is fantas tic. Under this decision, a man who loses his property because it was hit by a bomb, or because it was “scorched earth”, is given compensation. A man whose property is destroyed by looters, or deterioration, or whose indentured labour runs away, in consequence of invaders, or military authority, compelling him to leave, receives no compensation.

It is inconceivable that such a distinc tion should be drawn, as each man is equally the victim of war conditions.

Yet. unless the Association fights very hard, that interpretation will not be altered.

Pacific Territories Association

In consequence of persistent ill-health, Mr. R. A. Laws, of Wau. TNG, has been obliged to retire from the presidency of •the Association. The vice-president, Mr.

E. A. James, of Port Moresby, has been elected president, and Mr. Norman Nel son has become vice-president.

Mr. W. M. Middleton has joined the committee as a representative of the New Guinea planters, and Mr. A. C. Rentoul as representing Papuan public servants.