REPARATION PAYMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1921, Page 2

REPARATION PAYMENTS.

NEW ZEALAND’S SHARE NOT IvNOWN. AMOUNT MAY EXCEED £12,000,000. No information has reached Wellington yet concerning New Zealand’s share of the German reparation payments. The British Empire is to receive 22 per cent, of the total payments, which are to amount to £6,600,000,000. According to a cablegram from London, the Imperial Conference has agreed that Australia and Canada are each to receive 41 per cent, of the Empire’s share, or, roughly, £63,000,000 apiece. This figure is supported by a statement from Ottawa that Canada’s share is to be 300,000,000 dollars. The basis of allocation is not revealed in the messages, but it may be assumed that New Zealand’s share, on the basis of the Canadian and Australian allotments, will, be not less than £12,000,000. It may be more, in view of the fact that on a population basis New Zealand made greater sacrifices of men and money during "the war than either t'an-ada or Australia.

It does not. appear that much reparation money Will become immediately available, but this is a point on which no official statement has been made. The Germans are -paying by and there was an understanding among the Allies that France and Belgium were to have first call on the earlier payments for the restoration of the devastated districts. The exact position as far as New Zealand is concerned may not be made known until Mr. Massey meets Parliament a few months hence.