3

H.—25

9. With the exception of several small balances of debts which, on account of the financial position of the debtors, are being collected in instalments, the whole of the New Zealand assets of these firms have been realized. The question of transferring the balances at credit of the Continental C. & G. Rubber Company (Limited) and G. Hardt and Co. to the credit of the German Liquidation Account, in pursuance of paragraph 27 of the Treaty of Peace Order, 1920, is at present under consideration. In the case of Markwald, Son, and Ross, authority has been received to pay the proceeds to the partners in accordance with their respective shares. A balance of £119, however, is hold pending the settlement of a matter still in dispute. The firm of Rhodius and Co. (Limited) was incorporated in New Zealand in accordance with the Companies Act, and, as two of the shareholders are stated to be. of Belgian nationality, information is being obtained regarding the policy adopted by the British Government in connection with the disposal of the proceeds of companies incorporated in the United Kingdom, where some of the shares in such companies are held by British, Allied, or neutral nationals. 10. Some idea of the extent of the work involved in this connection may be formed when it is stated that the receipts derived from the liquidation of the assets of those firms amounted to £130,259 19s. 3d., while the payments to sundry creditors, expenses of liquidation, and commission amounted to £17,745 Bs. 2d. After payment of the sum of £3,838 12s. to certain partners in respect of their shares, there is a credit balance amounting to £108,675 19s. Id., which is held in the Common Fund of the Office. The following is a summary of the credit balances as at 31st May, 1922 : — £ s. d. Continental C. & G, Rubber Company (Limited) .. .. 91,088 7 0 G. Hardt and Co. .. .■, .. .. .. .-. 17,483 7 0 Markwald, Son, and Ross .. .. .. .. .. 119 0 0 Rhodius and Co. (Limited) . . .. .. .. .. 85 5 1 £108,675 19 1 Enemy Goods arriving: in New Zealand subsequent to the Outbreak op War: 11. On the outbreak of war the Government arranged for the amounts owing by New Zealand consignees on the shipments of goods of enemy origin which arrived in Now Zealand subsequent to the declaration of war to be collected by the Collectors of Customs at the various ports. The amounts received in accordance with these instructions were paid to the credit of the Public Account, and on the appointment of the Public Trustee as Custodian of Enemy Property the sum of £5,281185. Bd., representing the proceeds of approximately ,120 shipments, was transferred to the Public Trust Office, where it has been held and invested in the Common Fund of the Office. 12. In several instances satisfactory evidence has been submitted that the firm concerned was not of enemy nationality, and consequently the Hon. the Attorney-General has authorized the release of such amounts from the charge imposed thereon under the Treaty of Peace Order, 1920. The balance of the items has been transferred to the credit of tho German or the Austrian Liquidation Account, as required by the provisions of the, above-mentioned Order in Council. Registration of Enemy Property: in New Zealand. 13. In pursuance of the War •Regulations issued on the 3rd April, 1916, it was necessary for every person who, on the coming into operation of those regulations, held or had the possession, management, or control of any enemy property to communicate the fact, together with full particulars of such property, to the Custodian of Enemy Property at the Public Trust Office, Wellington. A similar provision was included in the Enemy Property Regulations dated sth August, 1919. The information received was duly recorded, and, where necessary, action was taken in accordance with the powers conferred on the Public Trustee as referred to in the following paragraph. Collection of Enemy Moneys. 14. On receipt of notification of income or debts due to an alien enemy steps were immediately taken by the Public Trustee to collect such amounts in pursuance of paragraphs 11 and 12 of the War Regulations dated 3rd April, 1916. In several'oases in which the financial position of the New Zealand debtor rendered it impossible, or extremely inconvenient, to insist on the immediate payment of the amount due, the Custodian of Enemy Property arranged, in exercise of the discretion vested in him under paragraph 12, for extension of time in which payment could be made. Only two or three balances remain to be collected. With the exception of several cases in which the beneficial owners have supplied satisfactory evidence that they are not of enemy nationality the amounts received under tho above regulations have been credited to the German Liquidation Account. Enemy Goods held in New. Zealand on Consignment. 15. Whore notification was received that goods belonging to enemy nationals were held in New Zealand on consignment or otherwise, the facts were reported to the Attorney-General, who, where necessary, signed a vesting-order under paragraph 17 of the War Regulations dated 24th July, 1916. During the current period several pre-war consignments of enemy goods have been notified to the Custodian of Enemy Property and have been realized in pursuance of the above provision.