WAR INDEMNITIES.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 December 1918, Page 4

WAR INDEMNITIES.

j NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE. FULL PARTICULARS OP COST' OF WAR SENT HOME. “Has lie noticed the cable in to-day’s paper stating that Mr. Lloyd George will announce to-day the cash reparation demanded by Britain and the 1 British Dominions from Germany, I amounting to some £3,000,000,000 sterling, as estimated by a committee presided over over by Mr. W. M. Hughes (Prime Minister of the Australian Comoneahvth); and were the views iof New Zealand represented at that committee?’’ asked Mr. E. Newman (Rangitikei) of the Prime Minister in Parliament on Monday. It was, he urged, of interest to the House and the country to know whether the claims of New Zealand were properly presented. Mr. Massey replied that the New Zealand Government had been asked for details regarding what the Dominion had done in' the war, the number of men sent to the front, the amount raised in loans, etc. He supposed that those particulars were required for the purpose of this committee. So far as his views as Prime Minister of New Zealand were concerned, they had been expressed in an interview in the London “Times” a fortnight ago. In it he made it perfectly clear that if anything in the’’way of indemnities was possible. New Zealand expected her share. (Hear, hear.) Sir Joseph Ward stated that when last in England with the Prime Minis-? ter he was on the War Cabinet Committee set up to suggest what payment should be made after the war by Germany, and strong reprosenta-

tions were made then that New Zealand would receive her share of the indemnity. (Hear, hear). It seemed' to him quite obvious that the money ought to be paid. (Hear, hear). The Hon. T. M. Wilford: Thefloser pays.* j (Hear, hear).

Sir Joseph Ward added many could pay, and she should be compelled to pay until the complete extinction of the war loans raised by the British Empire, including the Dominions—(hear, hear)—and that, of course .would be strongly pressed by him in support of the Prime Minister. (Hear, hear). The indemnity could be secured by a lieu -on the German mines, railways, and other property. (Hear, hear). Sir James Allen said that the total cost of the war to New Zealand, including the anticipated cost up to March 31st, 1919, and the capitalised values of,war pensions, etc., had been sent Home