War Damage

Commission

Committees to Consider Claims

COMMITTEES of Review have been set up by the War Damage Commission to advise on claims from former residents in New Guinea and Papua for compensation arising out of war damage.

In the case of New Guinea, the follow ing is the permanent committee:— Administrator . .. Sir Walter McNicoll.

Expert assessor . .. Mr. H. J. Unsworth.

Real property expert Mr. P. J. Gordon. for Districts of Morobe, Madang, Manus. New Ire land and Senik. .. „ „ Mr. R. H. Morris. for Districts of New Britain and Kieta.

Commission’s Rep. . Mr. M. J. Cronin.

The following shows the names of the “local representatives” who will sit with the above committees to consider claims from the respective districts mentioned, and the number of claims:— Morobe (1333) ... W. G, Mitchell Kieta (81) F. P. Archer Madang and Sepik (156) E. U. O’Brien Manus and New Ireland (191) .. N. Whitelev New Britain (569) . F. J. MacKenzie Papua In respect of Papua, the following is the General Committee: — Administrator .. .. Mr. Leonard Murrav Expert assessor .. Mr. H. J. Unsworth Real property expert Mr. R. H. Morris Commission’s Rep. Mr. M. J. Cronin The following are the names of “Local Representatives,” to sit with the General Committee to consider claims from the respective districts mentioned:— Central and Port Moresby (414) .. E. A. James Delta (6) J. R. Clay Western (7) .. .. E. H. Adams Eastern, Northern and North-east ern (196) ... G. E. Aumuller Gulf (26) R. A. Vivian South-eastern (Misima) .. .. P. F. Osborne South-eastern (Woodlark Island) (64 in SE Div.) H. W. Rogerson Committee Meetings The War Damage Commission has arranged the following list of committee meetings:—

Every 2nd and 4th Friday of month: Meeting of a New Guinea Committee.

Every 3rd Friday of month: Meeting of a Papua Committee.

Every Ist Friday of month: Meeting of State Assessment and Advisory Panel.

Statement By Commission

THE, chairman of the War Damage Commission (Mr. Coles, MHR) made the following statement on April 13:— At the meeting of the Commission held in Sydney last week a number of assessed claims for compensation were recorded in respect of fixed property, vehicles, furni ture and other personal property dam aged in New Guinea and Papua. The largest individual claim recorded exceeded £90,000.

Other claims are being considered, but many, particularly in enemy-occupied territory, cannot be assessed and recorded in the absence of reasonable evidence of

war damage or of the value of property damaged.

Claimants can assist in expediting the assessment of claims by furnishing the Commission, wherever possible, with cor roborative statements from persons who may have first-hand knowledge on these two points.

The Commission and the Army are in close collaboration to ensure that all available information will be utilised without having to put claimants to unnecessary trouble in proving their claims.

Claim in Respect of Pro- Date perty in 1943: District Locality of— Mch. 19 .

Central, P.

P. Moresby ,, 26 . . . . Morobe, N.G.

Wau-Edie Ck.

April 2 . . State Assessment and Advisory Panel 9 . . .. New Britain, N.G.

N. Britain ,, * 16 . . .. Eastern, P.

Samarai 23 . . • • Good Friday ,, 30 . . ..

May 7 . . State Assessment and Advisory Panel 99 14 . . .. Madang. N.G.

Madang ,, 21 . . ,. South Eastern, P. S.E.

H 28 . . .. Morobe, N.G.

Salamaua June 4 . . State Assessment and Advisory Panel ., 11 . . .. New Britain, N.G.

N. Britain ,, 18 . . .. Central, P.

Central 25 . . .. New Britain. N.G.

N. Ireland July 2 . . State Assessment and Advisory Panel ,, 9 . . .. Kieta, N.G.

Kieta ,, 16 . . .. Gulf. P.

Gulf 23 . . .. Morobe, N.G.

Bulolo *« 30 .

Aug. 6 .. , State Assessment and Advisory Panel , , 13 . . .. New Britain, N.G.

N. Britain ,, 20 ..

. . D. & W.. P.

D. & W.

M 27 .. , .. Manus, N.G.

Manus Sept. 3- ., , State Assessment and Advisory Panel 10 . . ., Morobe, N.G.

Lae 17 . . . . N. & N.E., P.

N. & N.E.

24 . . .. Sepik, N.G.

Sepik Oct. 1 . . State Assessment and Advisory Panel ,, 8 . . , .. Morobe, N.G.

Morobe ,, 15 .. .. Central, P.

P. Moresby ,, 22 .. .. Kieta, N.G.

Kieta .. 29 ., , ..

Nov. 5 ..

State Assessment and Advisory Panel 12 .. .. New Britain, N.G.

N. Ireland 19 . . .. Eastern, P.

Eastern 26 . . .. New Britain, N.G.

N. Britain Dec. 3 ..

State Assessment and Advisory Panel 10 .. .. Morobe, N.G.

Wau-Edie Ck 17 .. .. Central. P.

P. Moresby 24 ..

Christmas Eve ,, 31 . . .. .