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.

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