Treatment Of A B.S.I.

Soldier-Planter

HERE is a typical example of what European residents of the British Solomon Islands have suffered as a result of (a) the Jap invasion and (b) official British indifference to their plight.

Mr. Clem Hart held and operated one of the Lever plantations on Guadalcanal.

When the Japs threatened invasion he stayed on his plantation and, on the advice of the Resident Commissioner, continued to make copra, and store it, until the Jap landing in May, 1942.

In July, 1942, Solomons natives looted his place; but he recovered most of his property.

After the Americans landed, in August. 1942, he joined up with the BSI Defence Force as a Second Lieutenant; later, he was transferred to the Labour Corps as a Lieutenant, and was promoted Captain.

He left a native caretaker in charge of his property; but the caretaker was driven off by other natives in January, 1943, and the plantation was thoroughly looted again. The copra that Mr. Hart had made and stored, with official ap proval, was burned by the Native Police in July, 1942, on instructions from the District Officer.

In July, 1945, Mr. Hart made a formal claim upon the BSI Government for property lost, and the latter’s reply is published hereunder, as a'typical example of super-careful bureaucracy: Office of the Resident Commissioner, Guadalcanal 13th July, 1946.

Sir,—l am directed by the Resident Com missioner to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 26th July, 1945, forwarding war damage claim.

Your claim has been recorded, but I am to in form you that by accepting your claim for record purposes the Government does not thereby accept liability, nor can it be construed as an implicit understanding that any payment will be made.

I am also directed to' inform you that Govern ment is not yet in a position to make any statement on the question of policy in regard to war damage claims.

I am, etc., While he was on duty with the Labour Corps, in August, 1944, Mr. Hart was badly injured in a motor smash, and he spent the ensuing two years in hospital.

Now, he is permanently crippled.