REPATRIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1919, Page 5

REPATRIATION.

THE HUNS' INDEMNITY TO NEW ZEALAND. STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY. Waiuku, Nov. 13. Some mention of the subject of reparation us applying to New Zealand was made by the Prime Minister in hia speech at Waiuku (o-night. Mr Massev quoted an article of the Peace Treaty "to show what provision had boon made for reparation. According to the quotation, Germany would be called upon to pay the equivalent of twenty thousand million gold marks, or one thousand million pounds sterling, in 1021. This would be the first dividend, and New Zealand would get its share. What the share would amount to it was impossible yet to say. All depended upon Germany's capacity to pay in the first place, and then on Germany's willingness to pay. It had been intended that an army of occupation should be kept in German territory for a period of from five to fifteen years, as a surety for payment, but the Germans were very slippery, and British people were inclined to forget. Any further payment would probably be by way of war bonds spread over a period of thirty years. Mr. Massey read the following letter which he had addressed to Mr. Lloyd George on the subject of reparation, dealing especially with New Zealand's right to share in the indemnity to be paid by the Hun. The letter is dated June, 1 1919: On the eve of my departure for New Zealand I desire to hand you a statement of the approximate'position of New Zealand on account of our liabilities incurred during the war period up to the time of demobilisation of our military forces. You will understand that at present it is impossible to furnish accurate details of such expenditure, but so far as it is possible to estimate, our war expenditure will certainly amount to not less than one hundred million pounds sterling. Our liability on account of military pensions will be two million pounds sterling per annum, which represents a capital value of twenty-five millions. This amount is included in the total of £100,000,000 referred to in the preceding paragraph. There are many other liabilities which might properly be added, but I con- ; fine the items to direct expenditure. I am aware that New Zealand's share of any monetary compensation by the enemy for purposes of reparation will not probably amount to more than a comparatively small proportion of jur gross expenditure, and J fear it will be some time before any dividend will be forthcoming as a result of payments from the enemy by way of reparation. I trust, however, that when that time does come the interests of New Zealand will receive fair and equitable consideration.