Illegal Acts Reported

New Guinea Gold

Losses

rE. following statement was made by the chairman (Mr. J. Kruttschnitt) t at the annual meeting of New Guinea Goldfields, Ltd., in January ‘During 1943 we have had many con sultations with officers of the War Damage Commission and with- the adju dicator for the Army in connection with our claims for property destroyed by the enemy or in pursuance of a scorched earth policy and for other property taken over by the Army.

“At first, there existed some confusion in classifying the claims as between the two authorities, for in many cases of loss or damage it was found that both the Army and the War Damage Commission were involved. Close co-ordination be tween the two authorities was necessary for the handling of these problems There now exists a satisfactory liaison for dealing with overlapping liabilities and claims.

“The requirements of the War Damage Commission for evidence of loss of or damage to property could be met much more satisfactorily if a representative of the company were allowed to visit the property. Steps have been taken toward getting permission from the military authorities for such a visit, but so far civilians have not been allowed to return to the goldfields.

“Another reason for having a represen tative on the field is that we are reliably informed that quantities of gold are being illicitly brought from New Guinea to Australia, and sold bv members of the military forces. The fact that we are prevented from sending an officer to the goldfields to look after our property, and at the same time the military authorities are apparently not taking the necessary steps to prevent trafficking in gold, pre sents a rather discouraging situation.”