Governor Jore

Appointment to New Caledonia.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, June 16.

His Excellency Governor

JORE, who has been in charge of this colony for the past two years, is leaving Tahiti by the s.s. “Maunga nui” on June 18, en route to Noumea, where he will enter upon his new ap pointment as Governor of New Cale donia and Dependencies, General Com missioner of the French Republic in the Pacific, and High Commissioner for France in the New Hebrides.

Governor Jore entered upon his term of office here after the downward slant in copra values had got well under way, and the population was already begin ning to dip into its capital and savings, in order to meet current expenses. Dur ing the whole of his regime, scarcely a gleam of light showed above the finan cial horizon. On the contrary, the copra situation grew steadily worse, the market for vanilla and pearl shell, two other important Island products, collapsed, and Governor Jore’s adminis tration was faced with a problem of ever-increasing difficulty: that of pay ing the staff and providing essential public services from a constantly de clining revenue.

That he has been able to do this and leave the colony with the goodwill of the community behind him, shows an unusual amount of tact and ability. We sincerely hope that the same success will attend him in his new sphere.

One important measure brought into effect by Governor Jore was the abro gation of the tax on automobiles and its substitution by an import duty on gasolene. This, undoubtedly, brought more money into the governmental cof fers, but, at the same time, caused the burden to be more equitably dis tributed. Those who travel most and own the largest cars now pay the most, which is as it should be.

Monsieur Bouchet, who has acted as Secretary General for some time past, is named as the new Governor of these French establishments.

Queen Salote, of Tonga, at the opening of the Tongan Parliament.