NG Widows in a Vicious
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Circle
fTIHE indifferences of Canberra towards A the interests of New Guinea and Papua Europeans is strikingly shown in the way in which the respective auth orities are treating property-owners who wish to claim war damage compensation —especially the widows of men who lost their lives during the Jap invasion of New Guinea.
In various cases, the dependants of de ceased New Guinea planter have not been able to get any information about the con dition of their properties. They cannot get from the War Damage Commission anv assessment of damage done to grow ing crops, or any indication of the rate of assessment per tree.
Lacking these assessments, the widows cannot get probate; and until probate has been granted, the Commission will not pay out the amount of damage assessed.
About the only way in which the vicious official circle can be broken is for the widow, by deed poll, to give up her European nationality and adopt the name and status of a “Fuzzy Wuzzy”. Then officialdom will fall over itself to assist her.