QUESTION OF INDEMNITES.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1918, Page 2

QUESTION OF INDEMNITES.

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE.. . r Jjj§| IMPORTANT STATEMENTS, -if J ■' (By Wire—Owa Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. _ The question of indemnities was men-: tioned again in tho Bouse of Kepresentatives to-day, and statements were made on the subject by the Prime Minister and Minister of Pittance. Mr. Massey said that a few days £go the Imperial authorities had naked the New Zealand Government for details regarding what - tho Dominion had done in the war, the number of men sent, and (.lie cost to the country. He presumed this inquiry had been made on account of what was being done by the Special Committee sitting under the chairmanship of Mr. Hughes in London. Mr. Massey added that his own views, which lie believed represented the views of Parliament and the people of New | Zealand, had been expressed in an inter- , view which had appeared in tbe London I Times about a fortnight ago. He had made it perfectly clear that if ffie coblection of any indemnity was possible. New Zealand expected to olrtain its full share. Sir Joseph Ward "endorsed what had been sa id by the Prime Minister. He ' mentioned that while in London he had been a member of the War Cabinet Committee dealing with the question of indemnity. Strong representations were made then that New Zealand was to receive a share of the indemnity. "It seems to me quite obvious," said Sir Joseph Ward, "that the enemy should pay. Nothing will be left unflone to ensure that the British Empire gets its full share of costs incurred in connection ' with this huge war. It is perfectly clear to me that at all events Germany should he compelled to pay the whole, of tlie interest and sinking fund until the complete extinction of the wax loans of the British Empire, including overseas Dominions. The people responsible for this huge and unparalleled war, the people responsible for starting the war, will have to pay the bill." Sir Joseph Ward said that a; cable- i gram had already been despatched to ! the Imperial authorities giving the total cost of the war to New' Zealand, with the estimate of cost up to March 31 next. The information had also been supplied with reference to Samoa.