Settlement Of New Guinea

Estates

SCORES of persons in Australia are try ing to get some settlement of the estates of civilians who were lost in New Guinea, especially those who dis appeared after the invasion of Rabaul.

A New Guinea woman wife of a planter who now is presumed to be dead— has been informed by the Department of External Territories that a special tri bunal is being set up to deal with such cases. Something of the kind is most necessary. The fate of the person con cerned has to be investigated; probate has to be granted to someone; there necessarily are complications as between the laws of the Territories and of Aus tralia; in nearly every case, there is a claim loi compensation to be prosecuted before the War Damage Commission; ard the Australian Government wants :o re cover, from such people, the amounts it advanced them as living expenses between 1942 and 1945.

The majority of these claimants are women, who know nothing law. It is to be hoped that the PTA will ?-ee that they are properly protected, when they appear before the tribunal.

Many New Guinea evacuees have been awaiting a statement by the Australian Minister (Mr. Ward) about the promised pensions for dependants of Australian civilians lost in New Guinea. But nothing has been said.