M Sakamoto to Office of the Custodian of Enemy Property , 16 December 1946

Taber, Alta. December 16, 1946.

Received your cheque covering the balance of my credit for the enforced sale of property. You have asked me for the Title to these property but I do not see why I should give them to you because I have not received true value of these property. Also those property was left in your care until it was possible for me to reclaim it again. It was understood that you would take care of it until the war was over. Well you have broken this agreement and sold the land at half the real value.

Let us take the property situated at Pitt Meadows, Lot 4 of N.W. of Lot 282 . There is 10 acre to this property. About 8 acres has been cleared.

I bought this piece of land in 1935 for the sum of Six hundred fifty ($650) or at sixty-five dollars per acre. This was all in bush and stump land when bought. It has taken me five years to clear the eight acres. It cost me about $150.00 to $200.00 per acre to clear it. So it has cost me well into two thousand dollars. And what do I get for it from you is only $554.00. Now this is only fourth of what it has cost me. Do you think I am satisfied with this. The value of real estate at present time is not so low. So if you want the Title to these lands please pay the assessed value of property and I will gladly turn over my claim to these lands.

Thanking you for your trouble and hoping to hear from you on this matter I remain.

M Sakamoto