COPY for Mr. Shears
9829
March 10, 1947
Mr. Torataro TAZAWA,
Reg. No. 03470,
Monte Lake, B.C.
Dear Sir:
In reply to your letter of January 20th, we wish to advise that, although reference has been made in the House of Commons to the possibility of consideration being given to claims of evacuated person for recompense for property loss, no definite decision has been arrived at. If and when a decision in regard to this is reached, we presume that the manner in which claims are to be presented will be dealt with also. At that time, you will be in a position to act in regard to your property.
It is unfortunate that you did not see fit to inform this office earlier that you had left a considerable quantity of fairly valuable goods in the protected area. On May 21, 1942, both yourself and your wife signed the following statement for the Custodian's information in offering protection to your property: I certify that the above information is true and complete and state that I have no property of any kind whatsoever in any protected area in British Columba.
We have no record of any goods, identified as belonging to you, having been found by the Custodian apart from the following:
The radio, which you surrendered and which was sold by this office as you were previously informed.
The books which were handed to Richmond Transfer on September 25, 1944 for shipments to Mr. Ritsuichi Uyeno, at Monte Lake. You were informed of this shipment on October 31, 1944, and this office was under the impression that you have received the books, as you did not advise us otherwise.
The goods which were found at 715 West 7th Avenue and sold at auction. You were given details of this sale in January, 1945.
We are at a loss to understand why you waited for over four and a half years to report the five large boxes of valuable goods referred to in your letter of January 20th.
Yours truly,
F. Matheson,
Office of the Custodian
/FM