N. Caledonia

Free Labour In

War Destroyed Indenture System:: Grave Problem For Mining Companies

THE system of indentured Asiatic labour for New Caledonia, which was introduced 60 years to replace French convict labour, ended on July 5. 1945, when 10,000 Indo-Chinese and Indone sians were released from their labour contracts.

During the 60 years, New Caledonia experimented with Chinese, Japanese, Annamites, Tonkinese, Hindus, Javanese, but finally settled down with Tonkinese (with a few Annamites) and Javanese.

There were 3,000 of the former and 7,000 of the latter when the system ended.

The system had to be sternly discip lined, and the labour contracts were en forced by penal sanctions —fines and im prisonment. The average wage was 250 francs (about 30/- Australian) per month —which was 150 francs less than the wage usually paid to the undependable New Caledonian natives.

The Asiatics employed at the mines were paid more than the primitive native labourers employed in New Guinea; but they do not seem to have been as well fed and cared for. The Asiatics were allowed by the French to bring their women with them, and about one woman to four men arrived. Residential and social conditions were very bad.

The contract was for five years, and both the French and the Dutch (who supervised the contracts on behalf of the Javanese) insisted strictly on repatria tion. The system was sometimes criti cised by irresponsible Leftist writers, but generally it worked well enough.

WAR conditions destroyed the system.

There were 10,000 Asiatics in the Colony when the Japs invaded the South Pacific, and when their indentures expired between 1942 and 1944, they could not be repatriated. From 1942, New Caledonia was an important base for United States forces. The Americans spread around countless dollars, and all the trappings of Western democracy and freedom; and the Asiatics got a large share of both.

The Asiatics demanded cancellation of their labour contracts, and freedom of residence. The embarrassed French re fused both, and tried to keep the Asiatics under indenture. Both sides appealed, with growing urgency, to the Americans.

During 1943 and 1944 the situation stead ily worsened. The French used their armed forces against the Asiatics; the Asiatics retaliated with repeated strikes.

The Asiatics undoubtedly had griev ances in low pay, miserable living con ditions and continuance of the time-ex pired contracts, with their penal sanc tions. But, against them, were the facts that they were a poor, undesirable, illit erate class who required strict control; they originally were very glad to come from their wretched Asiatic slums to New Caledonia; it was vital to the Allied war effort that the production of min erals should continue; and —above all — they were merely instruments in the hands of a gang of Communist agitators, who somehow had found their way into the Colony. Their chief mouthpiece was a Madame Tunica, described as “the Colony’s Communist leader” who, at the present time, is a resident of King’s Cross, Sydney.

During the latter part of 1944 and early 1945, the Colony was convulsed by strikes. The newly-appointed Governor

Tallec handled the situation with strength and vigour; and he virtually compelled the General Council, by 11 to 4, to grant free residence to the Asiatics as from July 5, 1945.

After months of negotiation, a mini mum rate of wages was agreed upon be tween the now free Asiatics and the mining companies. It is about 1,675 francs (£5 Australian) per month, plus family allowances, improved housing, medical care, etc. The Asiatics gener ally, however, are eager to return to their own countries, as soon as transport is available.

If the mining industry is to continue in New Caledonia, the problem of pro

viding labour must be solved. The native Melanesian labour is inadequate —the supply, presumably, must come from Asia.

There now is a remarkable resemb lance between New Caledonia’s indus trial problem and that of every large Territory in the South Pacific.

Dr. C. E. Fox, who has been an active member of the Melanesian Mission in the British Solomon Islands for many years, arrived in Sydney early in October, He is due for medical attention and probably will have to undergo a minor operation.