Con N. Caledonia Now Afford

Java Labour?

From our own correspondent NOUMEA, August 18.

FACED with a possible shortage of labour, resulting from repatriations to the Dutch East Indies, the New Caledonian Government has asked plant ers and cattle-raisers to state their pos sible labour requirements. Two hundred and thirty replies have been received, and the local Netherlands Consul has been

asked if it is possible to obtain authorisa tion to introduce 1,000 workers.

But, as the florin is now valued at 24 francs, instead of 15 (as it was when the last convoy arrived) and as the passage money required is now 2,400 francs in place of the original 1,000 francs, the cost this labour will be much heavier than formerly.

In any case, the introduction of Java nese will not be hurried both because of shipping limitations and because it is not desirable to increase too much the colony’s monetary overseas commitments