James Hasegawa to Mr. George Peters, 12 February 1945

Copy for Mr. Shears.

File No. 8210.

Reg. No. 08187.

57 Sussex Ave., Toronto, Ont. February 12, 1945.

Administration Department,

Office of the Custodian.

With reference to file No. 6774-8210.

I have just received your letter addressed to my father C. Hasegawa at Lillooet, B. C. who in turn re-mailed it to me.

On reading through this letter, I find with great shock and surprise, the low estimation which your office has placed upon the property owned by my father.

First of all please permit me to relate to you a few facts about my father who is a naturalized citizen of Canada since 1913 or thereabouts. I wish to emphasize the fact that he is a loyal Canadian citizen ever since he first landed here over thirty years ago. This is proven by the fact that at the first available opportunity he made himself become a naturalize citizen. Secondly, to establish himself firmly, all his life savings have been converted into real property so that at old age he would be able to enjoy a moderate income and not become a burden upon the government as some others do.

He has given us a liberal education by sending us to Universities so that we in turn could be useful citizens instead of a burden upon the government. As you are fully aware, circumstances do not permit us to enlist and hence I am in Toronto here doing my "bit" for the war effort by being engaged in an aircraft plant.

I know that this letter is a bit unusual but I beg of you to revalue our property once again -- to regard us as a Canadian citizen and not a foreigner. The price of thirty-eight hundred dollars for all that property as listed on your letter of January 17th, is very small. Anyone could see that the store located on 616 Ewen Avenue is worth more that $3,800.00 alone.

So I wish to appeal to you under justice and fair play to re-estimate our property again.

May I hear from you at your earliest convenience?

"James Hasegawa"