Candidate

Only One Caledonian Candidate Successful—Yet

From Our Own Correspondent

Noumea, Jan. 5.

(§UCH are the 'problems of ordinary

sea-mail transportation in the South Pacific since the war moved north, that we have just received the results of the New Caledonian General Council elections which were to be held on January 7. Apparently, too, the whole issue is not concluded in one day, as in British countries, but (according to our Noumea corres pondent) the first day’s poll is but a preliminary canter—it is the second election day (January 21, in this case) that matters.) ABOUT half . the New Caledonian population qualified to vote went to the polls on election day, January 7, but I am informed that this is quite usual, as it is rare for all 15 members of the General Council to be elected at the first vote, and many voters—particularly those in outlying places—wait for a second election day, when there is a straight out “ballotage.”

The rule for the first day is that no candidate can be elected who does not poll a quarter of the votes cast. As there were 50 candidates for the 15 seats, only one was able to fulfil this condition. He is M. Berges, a colonist of La Foa on the west coast, who has been for long a general councillor and who was president of Governor Sautot’s nominated (and now disbanded) Administrative Council which admirably served Free France during the threat from Japan. He polled 1,140 votes of the 4,100, which were cast in his elec torate—this represents a personal triumph for the man who for most of his life has been a leader among Caledonians who claim a greater share in their own govern ment.

The party which M. Berges leads has a liberal programme, and has called itself the Comite Caledonien. It polled 8,452 votes, the vast majority in country dis

tricts, compared with 8,417 cast for the Social Progress or Labour group, which has much the same sort of general pro gramme, but whose support comes mainly from Noumea town.

The latest sensation of the election is that these two groups have after the first day’s poll agreed to unite, appointing only 14 candidates between them for the ballot on January 21.

This simplifies the position and puts the amalgamated party in a strong position as against the Conservative or “Union”

Party, representing big business and popu larly known as the “Ballande Party.”

These Conservatives polled 10,523, with relatively strong support in the town, but poorer support from “the bush.” Their leading candidate was a priest, the Rev.

Pere Bussy.

French soldiers and sailors when serving with the colours are not qualified to vote, thus reducing the electoral role by some hundreds.

There was no time to prepare a new voting list of the island’s potential 5,000 women voters (French women were re cently given the right to vote) who will have to wait another year of two for the next general election. Women candidates were allowed, however, and two were in cluded in the Social Progress group nominations. They were Madame Palla dini, wife of the party’s leader, and Madame Tunica y Casas. They did moder ately well, but are not included in the list for January 21.

Mr. Paul Cuer, who polled the highest number of votes among the five indepen dent candidates, announces that he will not stand for the 'ballot, but that he adheres to the new popular party.

“Within the framework of the French community,” said M. Berges, “we want Caledonians to be allowed at last to act as free men, free to vote on financial matters and absolute masters of the pro ceeds of the taxes they vote.”

Caledonians, he added, have the right to be considered as real French citizens, worthy of accepting democratic responsi bilities. The general interest of the country has often lain in opposition to big business interests, which however neces ‘ sary they may be to the country’s economy should not be allowed to use their finan cial power to overcome the people’s will and control the local Assembly.

In announcing the fusion of the two parties, last week’s Social Progress candi dates also laid stress on the “imperious necessity of presenting a united front to the ‘gros capitalisms local.’ ”

This election is of more than usual in terest, as it seems to show that a breath of democracy, felt at the time of the Free French movement in 1940, is still blowing across the coconut palms and mountains of this once neglected reef-engirdled isle.

Noumea, Feb. 9.

AS I forecast, the elections resulted in an overwhelming victory for the candidates of what one may call the “Popular Front” —the two social progress parties whose aims include a greater share of self-government for New Cale donia, and closer Governmental control of the mining industry which they claim has hitherto made huge fortunes for indi viduals outside the country without really benefiting the colony. These allied parties are the Comite Caledonien, which gained eight seats, and the Social Progress Party, which gained five.

The leader of the first-named is M.

Berges, long a champion of self-govern ment and a practised politician; he will undoubtedly be elected president of the new Council. Head of the Social Pro gressives is M. Florindo Paladini, former general councillor, and something of a Socialist firebrand. In the past he has

challenged the position of the richer people and the snoßs of the colony.

He has frequently been ejected from the Council for his biting personal remarks about former councillors—on one occasion, on being put out through the door, he came back, still talking, through the window. Hitherto, as even his bitter est enemies grant, he has had a certain nuisance value in opposition. It remains to be seen whether he is able to act with statesmanlike method in public matters now that his party and its ally are in the majority.

M. Berges was elected by an absolute majority at the election at the beginning of January, leaving 14 seats to be con tested for at the second “ballotage.” The allied parties gained 12 of these, which left only two for the so-called “Ballande Party.” This party will therefore be represented by a Roman Catholic parish priest from Bourail, Pere Bussy, and by Monsieur Bonneaud, who is one of Bal lande’s local directors.

Seventeen of the original 50 candidates, including the two women, Mmes. Palladini and Tunica y Casas, withdrew before the second ballot—which took place on a day of heavy tropical downpour, so that once again only about half of the electorate went fo the polls.

Though French countries have known women mayors of municipalities, this seems to be the first time in France or the French Empire that women have been candidates for an elected parliamentary body.

The election period, in general, was marked by a virulent exchange of polemics and personalities, but there was also a good deal of good political, well reasoned argument. The Catholic Church, which has always been a power in the land, joined in with a pamphlet warn ing good Christians against voting for parties allied with Bolshevism. Actually, there is little immediate danger of prac tical Communism developing in this iso later corner of the universe. The ten dency of many, however, will always be to take their cue from France. In the purely Caledonian arena, the winning battle-cry was “H faut que ca change!”

THOSE with any knowledge of New Caledonia’s backwardness and pre war neglect must have a certain sympathy with such a cry. With good will on all sides, and favoured by war time prosperity, it is to be hoped that changes can be brought about of per manent benefit and that population will increase and a fairer social system be developed.