5 Governors In

5 Months

Strange Procedure in N. Caledonia

WHAT the New Caledonian news paper once described as “the Waltz of the Governors” is still going on in the French colony.

M. Jore was Governor of New Cale donia until about the middle of 1939. In April, it was announced that M. Desanti would succeed M. Jore as Governor. On May 10 it was decreed that instead of M. Desanti, M. Pages would receive the position.

On June 17, there was an official an nouncement that the appointment of M.

Pages had been cancelled and that M.

Barthes had been appointed Governor.

It was later reported that M. Barthes had arrived in Sydney by the air service and had proceeded immediately to New Caledonia, where he took up the duties of Governor about the middle of August.

Shortly afterwards —about the middle of September—it was announced that M.

Barthes would retire and that M. Peli cier had been appointed Governor of New Caledonia. M. Pelicier arrived at Noumea about October 17 and at once assumed the duties of Governor of New Cale donia.

There has been no explanation of the very extraordinary fact that the Colony of New Caledonia has had five Governors —M. Jore, M. Desanti, M. Pages, M.

Barthes and M. Pelicier—within five months.