Ownership of Abandonee

War Goods

LAE, Nov. 1. .

AT the Finschhafen District Cornu recently, the local Magistrate Mr. D. J. Parrish convict©; nearly 40 natives of stealing, am three Europeans of receiving quantities of Armco galvanised iroo used for culverts, etc, the properth of the Commonwealth.

The natives had dug up the iroo from old roads in the American baa* area at Finschhafen, and sold it tf the Europeans.

The natives were each fined 5A* on the stealing charge and each was ordered to return whatever suited they had received through the said The Europeans—W. D. Mossman S. P. Smith and E. E. Foad—wens fined £?o, £lO and £3 respectively fas’ receiving.

This action may warn those persons who “find” something neTs in the district, without making report to the District Office. Shoulh a report be made tenders are calleo. for the articles so reported, ann everyone has an equal right tt tender.

The Wrong People Are

Punished

Editorial Note—The foregoing is < good example of the exasperatinxi futilities of officialdom.

In the first three or four yearn after the war ended, abandoned materials worth hundreds a> thousands of pounds were removes from the Territory, and thd Territory got no benefit whatever. .

Anyone with foresight would havvj insisted that all this property bd kept for the benefit of the Territory! which had suffered so grievously iii the war. But no! Mr. Eddie Ward’b Socialist Administration allowed ala sorts of people to get away witftj enormous quantities of machiner.ie and material, for their own enrichd ment; while, at the same time, thd Administration called upon Ausai tralia for millions of pounds fool the rehabilitation of the Territories! and the payment to natives of damage compensation.

Numerous protests were madob The Administration ignored ala appeals and warnings. It is the;oi who should be prosecuted.