1 July]

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

PART II—INDEX TO DECISIONS

Tariff Item No.

PART III--DECISIONS WHICH ARE CANCELLED

Tariff Item No.

Customs Department, Wellington C. 1, 1 July 1954.

(Tariff Order 114)

J. P. D. JOHNSEN, Comptroller of Customs.

Grant to Ex-prisoners of War of the Japanese

THE Minister of External Affairs has announced that a grant of £25 would be made to those New Zealanders who were prisoners of war of the Japanese during the Second World War.

‘It was not possible’, the Minister said, ‘to make adequate provision in the Japanese Peace Treaty for the claims of those persons who suffered personal injury and maltreatment in Japanese prisoner-of-war or internment camps. Other allied Governments, including the United Kingdom, Canadian, and Australian Governments, have accordingly assumed the responsibility of compensating those of their nationals who suffered special hardship by reason of their imprisonment or internment in the Far East, and it seems only appropriate that the New Zealand Government should do likewise. As a result of representations made by the New Zealand Ex-prisoners of War Association and the New Zealand Returned Services Association, the Government has therefore decided that a grant of £25 per capita should be made to those New Zealand ex-servicemen and merchant seamen who were prisoners of war of the Japanese. The next-of-kin of deceased prisoners will also be eligible for the grant. Payment will be made on receipt of an application made to that branch of the armed forces in which the ex-prisoner served prior to his capture. In the case of merchant seaman, application should be made to the Marine Department.’

The Minister of External Affairs has also announced that from the enemy assets at the Government’s disposal a grant would be made to the New Zealand National Patriotic Fund Board for the welfare of ex-prisoners of war and their dependants, and a separate fund established for the welfare of New Zealand civilians interned by the Japanese who suffered special hardship, and who are now in need. This fund will be administered by the Social Security Department.

Dated at Wellington, this 23rd day of June 1954.

FOSS SHANAHAN,

For the Secretary of External Affairs.

Settlement of War Claims

THE Minister of External Affairs has announced that persons who, as a result of an act of war, suffered property loss or damage in Germany, in German occupied territories, or in Japanese occupied territories (but not in Japan itself) may file details of their claims with the Public Trustee, as Custodian of Enemy Property, P.O. Box 5024, Lambton Quay, Wellington. Claim forms may be obtained from the Public Trustee.

Receipt of a claim by the Public Trustee will not constitute any admission by the Government of the validity of the claim, or any guarantee that the claim will be met either in whole or in part.

Dated at Wellington, this 23rd day of June 1954.

FOSS SHANAHAN,

For the Secretary of External Affairs.

BANKRUPTCY NOTICES

In Bankruptcy

NOTICE is hereby given that a first dividend of 3s. 9d. in the pound is now payable at my office on all proved claims in the estate of JOHN RAYMOND DOWD, of Taheke, Storekeeper.

T. P. PAIN, Official Assignee.

Courthouse, Whangarei, 23 June 1954.

In Bankruptcy—Supreme Court

G. B. HOPPER, of 9 Curran Street, Ponsonby, Estate Agent, was adjudged bankrupt on 25 June 1954. Creditors’ meeting will be held at my office, Fourth Floor, Dilworth Building, on Friday, 9 July 1954, at 12 noon.

T. C. DOUGLAS, Official Assignee.

Fourth Floor, Dilworth Building, Customs Street East, Auckland C. 1.