New Caledonia Looking

to Australia

By H. E. Friday,

an English journalist,

who arrived in Australia, from Noumea, on July 9.

NEW Caledonia, traders would like an official statement from Australia on the existing position of the Com monwealth in relation to New Caledonia and the New Hebrides.

They would like to know, for example, if New Caledonian currency (Bank of Indo-China francs) are going to be stabilised in relation to the Australian pound, and, if so, at what rate. At the moment, visitors to the Commonwealth from New Caledonia are unable to change their francs at Australian banks.

Now that New Caledonia is cut off from France and must buy practically all her requirements in Australia, she is looking to the Commonwealth as a more important outlet for her minerals, coffee and other produce. A revision, or abolition, of duties on N. Caledonian produce is essential, it seems, so long as the war, necessitating the most com plete co-operation with the Colony, con tinues. This should be part of any working agreement (perhaps a barter arrangement) come to with the Govern ment of New Caledonia, either with or without the implicit consent of the Petain Government.

Australians cannot be told too often that New Caledonia, right on their door step, is a land tremendously rich in cer tain minerals. Up to now the Colony has been scandalously neglected by the Australian press.

What New Caledonians are beginning to ask themselves is whether the Bank of Indo-China monopoly is in the best interests of the country. It would pos sibly stimulate trade relations, as well as tourist traffic, if a branch of an Aus tralian bank was allowed to open and operate in Noumea.

Two Fijian gold mining companies, Emperor and Loloma, have each sub scribed £lO,OOO towards the interest-free loan issued by the Commonwealth Gov ernment.