"Expro" Properties

Has Australian Government Any Policy?

Canberra. Oct. 5.

rE Government is considering the position of planters who were pur v chasing properties in New Guinea from the Custodian of Expropriated Property when war came. The matter is bound up with the question of re habilitation of the European residents of the Territory.

This reply was made in reply to a question by the Opposition; “(1) What scheme, if any, has the Government evolved regarding ad justment of the contracts between the Custodian of Expropriated p™perty and New Guinea planters in respect of the properties bought by them after World War I. and be fore the introduction of the Gov ernment’s post-war policy relative to the development of Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea?

“(2) Will the Minister consider —(a) the retrospective elimination of in terest from the payment calcula tions so that all amounts paid by the purchasers mie'ht be con sidered as canital payments; (b) a further substantial writing-off of capital balances now nominally outstanding;’ and (c) the opening of n branch of the Mortgage Department of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia to & ive financial accommodation to settlers?”