8.—9

Progress regarding the Disposal of Claims. 102. The following tables show the progress which has been made in connection with the disposal of claims lodged for settlement through the New Zealand Clearing Office : — (a) Claims by New Zealand Nationals against German Nationals under Article 296 of the Treaty of Versailles. 171 claims lodged in New Zealand and forwarded to the Central £ s. d. £ s. d. Clearing Office, London .. .. .. .. .. 34,665 15 5 45 claims lodged with the London representative of the New Zealand Clearing Office .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,368 8 3 53,034 3 8 Claims withdrawn in whole or in part by the New Zealand Clearing Office in response to contests received from the German Clearing Office and in accordance with the instructions of the claimants .. 27,177 17 3 Claims admitted by the German Clearing Office in whole or in part .. 22,201 4 1 Claims rejected in terms of agreement with German Clearing Office, and deemed to be withdrawn .. .. .. .. 3,338 10 1 - 52,717 11 5 Balance, being two claims still under action (lodged in New Zealand) .. £316 12 3 In addition to the sum of £22,201 4s. Id. admitted and credited by the German Clearing Office as shown above, interest thereon amounting to £6,645 lis. 2d. has also been credited by that Office. The amount admitted, less a deduction of 2|- per cent., being Clearing Office commission thereon, has been paid by this Office to the New Zealand claimants. Since the last report claims totalling £503 3s. 4d. have been withdrawn by the New Zealand Clearing^Office. (b) Claims by German Nationals against New Zealand Nationals under Article 296 of the Treaty of Versailles. 1,476 claims received from the German Clearing Office through the £ s. d. £ s. d. Central Clearing Office .. .. .. .. .. .. 211,151 12 10 Claims retransferred to the Central Clearing Office as not applicable to New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. 1,164 5 2 Claims withdrawn in whole or in part by the German Clearing Office in response to letters of contest forwarded by this Office on behalf of the alleged New Zealand debtors .. .. .. .. 168,795 5 1 Claims admitted in whole or in part by New Zealand firms and credited to the German Clearing Office .. .. .. .. 30,876 10 5 Claims rejected under agreement with German Clearing Office, and deemed to be withdrawn .. .. .. .. .. 9,264 6 7 210,100 7 3 Balance, being claims still unsettled .. .. .. £1,051 5 7 In addition to the sum of £30,876 10s. sd. admitted and credited to the German Clearing Office as shown above Treaty interest amounting to £10,923 4s. 4d. has also been admitted. Since the last report liability in regard to claims amounting to £335 14s. 6d., exclusive of interest, has been established by the German claimants or acknowledged by New Zealand debtors. The necessary credit schedules have been duly forwarded to the German Clearing Office in respect of these claims. In response to letters of contest lodged by this Office on behalf of the alleged New Zealand debtors, the German Clearing Office has withdrawn claims amounting to £1,789 18s. during the period. Claims totalling £3,318 ss. have become ineffective as a result of rejection by the New Zealand Clearing Office, and the total amount of claims under these headings finally disposed of during the year is therefore £5,443 17s. 6d. (c) Claims by New Zealand Nationals against Germany under Article 297 of the Treaty of Versailles. Thirteen claims forwarded to the German Clearing Office through the £ s. d. £ s. d. Central Clearing Office .. .. .. .. .. .. 52,731 17 3 Claims acknowledged in part by the German Clearing Office or established before the Anglo-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal and credited to the New Zealand Clearing Office .. .. .. 18,793 6 1 Compensation awarded by the Anglo-German Mixed Arbitral Tribunal either by consent of the parties or in course of formal judgment .. 2,319 19 5 Claims withdrawn in part on acceptance of German offers of compensation or in accordance with judgments of the Mixed Arbitral Tribunal .. .. .. . . .. 31,618 11 9 52,731 17 3 It will be noted that all claims lodged under this heading have been disposed of.

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