'The member of the ``WD_SECTION_START`` enumeration corresponding to
the value of the ``val`` attribute of the ``<w:type>`` child element,
or ``WD_SECTION_START.NEW_PAGE`` if not present.'

@property
def start_type(self):

    type = self.type
    if ((type is None) or (type.val is None)):
        return WD_SECTION_START.NEW_PAGE
    return type.val
