new properties for basic types

[Dominikus Dittes Scherkl via Digitalmars-d-learn]

On Monday, 14 July 2014 at 11:28:15 UTC, Philippe Sigaud via 
Digitalmars-d-learn wrote:
> Halas, that's not what the OP wants. He needs properties on the 
> *type*
> itself: int.foo instead of foo!int.
Yes, exactly.

>
> So no, this is not possible.

Hmm.
So how do I use stuff like this:

     template defaultInit(T)
     {
         static if (!is(typeof({ T v = void; })))    // inout(U)
             @property T defaultInit(T v = T.init);
         else
             @property T defaultInit();
     }

(this is from std.traits - ok, it's private, but anyway)
Because I have seen nowhere anything like defaultInit!T (or 
T.defaultInit)
and don't understand why here the attribute @property is used.
Why does it make a difference, and how?