N. Caledonia Participates
p. 23 · Read in the full issue
In French Election
NEW CALEDONIA participated in the French elections on October 21, and voters were asked to nominate a candidate to represent the Colony on the new National Assembly in Paris. Though results are not to hand, it seems almost certain that M. Gervolino, candidate of the Caledonian Party, will be chosen by a handsome majority. He is also the sol diers’ representative, and has been for the past two years, Caledonian represen tative in North Africa and France on the Consultative Assembly. He has already placed the Colony’s urgent claims for a greater degree of self-government before French metropolitans.
Other candidates are: Florindo Pala dini, leader of the leftist party in the Conseil General, and the solicitor, Michel Verges, a crony of Admiral d’Argenlieu’s, a man who helped to rally the Colony to General de Gaulle, but who lost popularity later through his double-dealing schemes and anti-Sautot attitude.
The electoral roster included the names of 4,789 men and 4,401 women, the latter being allowed to vote for the first time; and there were also about 1,100 natives authorised to vote as French citizens.
A referendum concerning the proposal to alter the French Constitution of 1875,
was also taken.-