15

H.—25

German Church Trust Property at Christchurch. 57. By section 78 of tho Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1917, the property belonging to the German Church Trust at Christchurch was vested in the Public Trustee upon such trusts and with such powers, discretions, and authorities as the Governor-General in Council might from timeto time direct. The Public Trustee has been collecting the rents and making such repairs as were necessary from time to time. 58. On behalf of this congregation a petition addressed to His Excellency the Governor-General in Council was presented praying that this property be now vested in the Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Conference Trust Board. The petition was favourably considered by the Government, and the necessary legislation to give effect thereto was included in section 54 of the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Act, 1922. Under the provisions of this section the property is now vested in the Evangelical Lutheran Concordia Conference Trust Board subject to trusts to be declared by the Governor-General in Council. These trusts were duly declared by Order in Council dated 23rd April, 1923, and published in New Zealand Gazette No. 40, dated 3rd May, 1923. German Property in Samoa. 59. In accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles the New Zealand Clearing Office is required to transmit to the German Clearing Office schedules showing the value of the German plantations in Western Samoa which have been retained by the New Zealand Government in pursuance of Articles No. 121 and 297 (b) of the Treaty of Versailles. The present policy of the New Zealand Government with respect to these properties which now comprise the Crown Estates of Samoa was indicated in its first report on the Territory to the League of Nations. (See parliamentary paper A.-4, 1922.) Considerable difficulty is being experienced in determining what is a proper basis of valuation to be adopted in giving credit to the German Government in connection with the properties retained. In regard to Gorman property retained in New Zealand this difficulty does not arise, as all German property retained in pursuance of the Treaty of Peace is sold and the net proceeds thereof are credited to the German Liquidation Account. The preparation of the schedules regarding Western Samoa is at present receiving attention by the Samoan authorities, and every effort is being made to have this work completed at an early date. Restitution of Property in Germany belonging to British Nationals. 60. A copy of a Board of Trade announcement elated 25th September, 1922, in connection with claims for restitution of property in Germany has been received, reading as follows : — Notice is hereby given by tho Board of Trade that no claims against Germany for restitution undor the provisions of Article 238 of tho Treaty of Versailles of cash, securities, or other property seized or sequestrated in occupied territory will be entertained by their Reparation Claims Department except in cases which have been notified to tho Reparation Claims Department, Cornwall House, Stamford Street, London S.E. 1, and full particulars of which have been furnished prior to 28th October, 1922. All claims for restitution which have been notified to the Reparation Claims Department, but in respect of which all tho particulars and information which have been asked for by tho Reparation Claims Department have not been furnished prior to 28th October, 1922, will be presumed to have been abandoned. No claims falling within this category have been notified to this office. Comparative Statistics of Allied Clearing Offices. 61. It is considered that the comparative tables of the operations of the Belgian, French, Italian, Siamese, Greek, and British. Clearing Offices as at the 31st March, 1922, compiled by the Controller of the Central Clearing Office, and published in his second report, will be perused with great interest and have therefore been reprinted in tho appendix to this report. The Controller of the Central Clearing Office refers to these tables in the following terms : — For the information relating to the operations of tho Allied Offices contained in these tables I am indebted to my colleagues. A study of these tables will enable an estimate to be formed of the work already accomplished by the different Allied Offices towards completion of the clearing operations. As regards the British Office, the figures are brought down to date in footnotes to the separate tables. Conclusion. 62. A summary of the more important despatches and communications from the Imperial authorities will be found in the appendix of this report. Several statements of accounts prepared by tho Controller of the Central Clearing Office have been reprinted, as it is considered that they will be read with considerable interest. I have, &c, J. W. Macdonald, Public Trustee, as Custodian of Enemy Property and Controller of the New Zealand Clearing Office.