WAR COSTS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1921, Page 1

WAR COSTS

£10,000,000 FROM GERMANY. • The references in cablegrams to the efforts of the Prime Minister of Aus- • India (Mr Hughes) to make Germany pay the British war costs lends special interest to a statement in the London “Evening Standard.” It is as follows:—At the London clearing office for Germany—which is

at the same time the headquarters of 11 local clearing offices spread over Ihe British Empire—Boo men most of whom are ex-service men, are busify n ngaged in the practical solution of many commercial problems arising out of the Peace Treaty. The staff even includ i s blind typists trained at St. Dunstan’s whose work is stated by the Controller to be very' satisfactory. The work involves enormous detail, as may be inferred from 'Hie fact that by November

15 British claims, representing a total of over £10,000,000, will have been paid by moneys received on behalf of Germany. Up to the end of September Germany had paid commercial balances of debts owing by Germans to persone of British nationality totalling £6X100,000. So far she hii.A been paying ini' regularly, and oil' Monday next another £3,000,000 will be forthcoming, besides £1,000,C00 owing'bv business firms here to Germany, which are' being collected and allocated towards the settlement'of other British claims. So far the work lias progressed admirably! thanks to the expeditious, business-like way in which it lias been conducted. Only two days after notification of the re-establish men t of clearing houses’ 13 huge Hags of British claims were despatched lo Germany. Almost immediately clearing operations were started. The claims so far sent to Germany chiefly belong to this country, but from the Various local clearing offices of the Empire further claims are piling in rapidly. These include every .description of oijrirehey and of rate, and arc being cleared at the London headquarters.

“Germany has regularly paid her balances up to date, and the indications are that she will continue to meet her oHjigations,” drtrlared a high official of‘the Clearing Offie/?.' 'Tlie Controller is now faced with further ''minutiae of detail. Large quantities of household furniture and personal effects' lielongings were taken over the snialler class alien at the outbreak of war, and have been remaining in warehoi isos' here for the ])nst six years. Against, these there been a lien m respect of' Warehouse charges find other costs.

Tho release of tlic'so goods 11 ]> to :i maximum of £SOO to smaller-class German subjects is now contemplated lie re, and may bo introduced at an early date, ruder the Treaty we .bad a'right to retain all German property in this country as'Security for the payment 'of debts and various classes of claims.’ Under an Order in Council giving effect ‘to the provisions of the. Treaty however, there is a provision that' aitv specified property may be released front tlie foregoing charge. This has already taken effect with regard to British wives of ■Germans, and also in certain cases of undeniable hardship. The latter aspect of the matter is now about to be developed Upon somewhat broader-and more sympathetic lines than heretofore. The authorities here have taken into consideration the ease of the German of slender means who has a within the scope of possible hardship It is in his favour that it is proposed to make the foregoing concession. At the same time, it is recognised that there are certain advantages in the proposal. We retain the right to refuse this concession in certain cases as regards tin* specified value of goods. On tin l other hand, there is an arrangement in prospect to return to us all fnrnitui J cv effects, and warehoused goods in Germany—-the value of which by the way, considerably exceeds that of the smaller class Gorman oersonal belongings retained by us here, which are practically of nominal value, as against tho personal hardships otherwise entailed to the owners.