PRE-WAR DEBTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1921, Page 5

PRE-WAR DEBTS.

BRITISH SUBJECTS AND GERMANS. PROCEDURE OF CLAIMS. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In connection with the New Zealand clearing house established to co-operate with the Imperial Government in the matter of claims of pre-war debts between British subjects and Germans, the position was explained at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. It was stated that advice had been received from the Solicitor-General that it was exceedingly questionable whether shipping consignees’ claims could be supported, as it might reasonably be assumed that by German Jaw or by the terms of the bills of lading German shipowners were sufficiently protected. In view of the provisions of the treaty imposing fines of five per cent, of the amount on unsubstantiated claims for debts it would be wise for consignees to ascertain definitely their position before sending claims to the clearing office. To overcome the difficulty of being called upon to pay a fine on unsubstantiated claims the Dominion controller had agreed to send forward the claims of consignees with the s.s. Wismar on condition that the penal interest should not apply until after the hearing, and until after the office of the creditor had fiad an opportunity of withdrawing the claim after the receipt of the form of protest from the clearing office of the debtor. Claims should be forwarded to the local controller immediately, as the date for receipt would shortly expire.