R D Richardson to Mrs. Sakae Takenaka, 16 January 1945

8636

January 16th, 1945.

Registration No. 09064,

We are in receipt of your letter of the 8th instant written by your son, Rikio Takenaka, on your behalf and have carefully read your comments in connection with the sale of your property.

The frank but courteous manner in which you present your complaint does not pass unnoticed and we can assure you that it has been the desire of this office to fulfil its obligations in as just and fair a manner as possible.

The policy of liquidation was, as you are aware, decided upon by the Government authorities at Ottawa and in the case of all properties, outside of the group of farms sold to the Director, Veterans' Land Act, for use of returned soldiers, we have endeavoured to treat every sale on its individual merits.

While we appreciate that the sale of any property is a matter of personal concern and in some cases may be contrary to the wishes of the owner, we do believe that we have taken every possible step to secure fair and adequate prices.

Your property fell within the group of over 700 parcels which were sold to the Director, Veterans' Land Act. The same principle of disposal obtained in regard to these lands, except that in this case the valuations of this group of properties were made by a board of appraisers who were not directly appointed by this office, but whose ability and impartiality was considered by Ottawa to have been satisfactory. It was on the basis of these valuations that this office entered into negotiations with the Director, Veterans' Land Act, and your property was accordingly sold for $1023.00.

The consideration of any definite claim is a matter beyond our control at the present time and we are unable to advise what the situation in this regard may be at the close of hostilities. Your letter, however, will remain on our file as an indication of your opinion in regard to this sale and in the event of the matter being re-opened at a later date and claims are being considered our records will be available.

I trust that in the meantime your confidence in the desire of this office to administer and carry out Government policy in the best interests of those concerned may be maintained.

R D Richardson,