N. Caledonian Election

In March

From Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, Jan. 17.

PLANS for the election of a properly constituted Administrative Council, abandoned last year during the regime of Governor Montchamp, are be ing renewed under a promise made by French national headquarters in Algiers following the appointment of Monsieur Christian Laigret as director of the Cabinet Civil du Haut Commissariat.

M. Laigret was instructed to proceed with arrangements for “an election by referendum as proposed by the (existing) Administrative Council.”

At the time Governor Sautot nominated this Council, elections were impracticable, but it has always been understood that they would be held as soon as conditions permitted. Electoral lists are now being prepared, and election day will probably

be in March, by which time a new Governor, M. Tallac, is expected here.

M. Laigret’s association with his Council has been much more close and cordial than that of his predecessor, M.

Montchamp, and he has also made a strong impression on town and bush by the rapidity with which he got a grasp on local affairs.

The Commanding Officer of the First Fiji Battalion (serving overseas) recently sent extracts of the Battalion’s own paper, “Ai Matai,” to Suva, with a re quest that they might be made into booklet form and sold for the benefit of men from Fiji who are serving overseas.

The Commander’s suggestion was acted upon and an attractive booklet was pro duced by the Government Printer. These copies of “Ai Matai” may be purchased at 1/- at the large stores, and most of the newsagents, or may be obtained direct from the Suva Information Office.