N. Caledonia Returns To

Nickel Economy

NOW that New Caledonia has to get back to a normal economy, which means 90 per cent, mineral exports, great interest attaches to post-war min ing problems.

The labour situation is aggravated by the release from their long-expired con tracts of 10,000 coolie labourers, and it remains to be seen if an effort will be made to reconstruct the industry on a basis of white and free native labour or Asiatic labour.

The managing director of the Societe le Nickel, M. Guenault, is expected to arrive in Noumea by air shortly. He will resume direct touch, so long suspended.

between the local mines and smelters, which have been under American con trol until recently, and Paris head quarters. The vice-president of the board of directors of the French company, M.

Dewez, who has been long in New York, where machinery orders have been placed, has already reached Noumea.

Meanwhile the Bienvenue mine at Nakety exploited by M. Lafleur, one of the most influential -business men in the Colony, has ceased operations for lack of labour. This mine has up to the present produced about 160,000 tons of

nickel ore.-

H.E.L.P.

Miss Emily Clarke, of the New Guinea Mission, left Sydney on November 14 to. visit relatives in England.