"Caledonian Chrome
p. 16 · Read in the full issue
Sacrificed For Turkish Profit"
Claim Made by Politician
From Our Own Correspondent r . NOUMEA, March 16.
E most important question now dis cussed here is the proposed nationa lisation of the mining industry.
This was a popular election cry and most New Caledonians favour the introduction oi some sort of controlled economy to avoid the worst abuses of the capitalist system The matter is to be studied, and the Colony is to prepare a memorandum for • x Ssion to the French Colonial Minister.
In the meantime, the outlook for Cale donian chrome is far from rosy The American market, which until recently kept the mines going, is no longer taking treated ores, but only crude ores. This limits exportation to the major mines of Tiebaghi and Tomtouta, and even here transport is difficult to obtain.
“The English control the world chrome market,” says politician Palladini, “and Caledonian chrome has been sacrificed to the profit of Turkey, with whom the Allies bargained so that she should enter the war against Germany.”
The head of the local mining depart ment regards the nickel outlook as equally sombre, as no more reliance can be placed on the American market whose normal source is Canadian nickel It seems clear that the future of Cale donian nickel rests on the reconstruction of the industries of Western Europe; but how long this will take it is hard to say.
Nickel, however, can only be profitably exploited in about three countries, of which this is one, so one may expect New Caledonia to continue to provide the usual 8 or 9 per cent, of the world’s out put.