CREDIT AND DEBIT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2875, 13 September 1916, Page 6

CREDIT AND DEBIT

OURSELVES AND THE ENEMY

THE PROPERTY ACCOUNTS

A. cablegram from London, published in The Dominion on Monday, regarding the issue of a Royal Proclamation directing British subjects to send in returns of their property in enemy territory was referred to the AttorneyGeneral, tho Hon. A. L. Hcrdman, for elucidation by a reporter yesterday. Mr. lierdman said that tho information required by tho Imperial Government probably related to

(n) Property situate in British territory belonging to enemy subjects. (b) Debts due from British subjects to persons in enemy territory. (c) Property m enemy; territory

belonging to British subjects. (d) Debts due to British subjects from persons in enemy terri-

In New Zealand the furnishing of information asked for in paragraphs (a) and (b) was made compulsory by the gazottiug of war. regulations in the month of April of this year requiring persons resident in New Zealand having tho ' possession, management, oi control of enumy property, to send m full particulars of such property to the Public Trustee, Wellington. These regulations also made it compulsory lor persons residing in New Zealand who owo money to any enemy or to any person on behalf of any enemy to Btipply particulars to the Public Trustee.

As regards paragraphs (c) and (d)— lo which tli© cablegram more particularly refers —returns of property in enemy torritory belonging to British subjects and of debts due to British subjects from persons in • enemy territory—the furnishing of this information' in' New Zealand up to tho present was voluntary on tho part of those concerned. In respect of (c) and (d) no regulations were in force in New Zealand at present. In October of last year'the Government caused a notice to be published iii the Press and to be posted in public buildings dealing witli monetary claims by persons residing in New Zealand against enemy subjects residing abroad. Tho text of the notice was as follows: —

"It is considered advisable that the Government should have some record of monetary claims which persons residing in New Zealand have against enemy subjects residing abroad, and which are not re.- ' coverable at the present time by reason of tho existence of a otate ol war. "All persons having such monetary claims are accordingly hereby called upou to forward /full particulars thereof' to the UnderSecretary, Department of Internal Affairs, not later than March 31, 1916. All communication's in this* matter will be treated as confidential." By tho means adopted, tho AttorneyGeneral stated, a considerable amount ol information was collected and returns had been prepared and referred lo His Excellency the Governor for transmission to the Imperial Government. Supplementary _ returns would ol course follow from time to time. Persons who mav be affected by rogfllations bearing upon the matters referred to are advised to make themselves familiar with them by obtaining copies from the Government Printing Office.