Enemy Aliens'

Property

Australian Laws Liberal

IN contrast with decisions taken after the last war, enemy aliens who were imprisoned in the South Pacific dur ing World War II have not been deprived of their property. On the contrary, those people especially Germans who were removed from New Guinea as enemy aliens, and interned in Australia, have been given facilities since the war ended to claim from the Australian War Dam age Commission compensation for war damage to their property in New Guinea.

Claims made by enemy aliens are ex amined and assessed in the ordinary way; but, when the claim is finalised, the money is not paid to the claimant. In stead, it is placed in a special fund, and held in trust for the enemy alien.

The original regulation provided that when the Australian Attorney-General gave a certificate that he was satisfied that the former enemy alien had been a loyal subject of the British Dominion wherein he resides, the amount of the compensation might be paid to him from this fund. In practice however, this has been found unsuitable it might mean that the money would be with held for a long period. So the regula tion is being altered, to provide that the money may be paid over on a certificate from the Attorney-General that the former enemy alien has not been guilty of any disloyal or subversive acts.

Mrs. M. Costello, of Rabaul, and Gire Gire Plantation, who has been spending a short leave in Sydney, returned to New Britain by air in late October.