Fewer Japanese In
p. 13 · Read in the full issue
N. Caledonia
From Our Own Correspondent
Noumea, July 17.
IF there is one thing more than another that the white population of Cale donia fears it is the Japanese. Effi cient steps have been taken in the past to minimise the danger of peaceful pene tration, as a result of which there are to-day some 1,100 Japanese residents, compared with close on 2,500 in 1918.
The present white population is 17,000.
Of the 1,100 Japanese, about 350 live in Noumea. Most of them came originally as indentured labourers for the mines, which they subsequently deserted for storekeeping and market gardening. For many years now they have been the prin cipal growers of vegetables for the Nou mean market. But now they are getting on in years, and many of them can carry on only with the help of hired Javanese.
In the future they may have to give way to Indo-Chinese peasants, accus tomed to such work in their own country.
If and when this comes, New Cale donians will be better pleased.