A Casino

Noumea is to Have

And Will (Perhaps) Become the "Monte Carlo of the South Seas"

SINCE well before the war a move has been on foot to erect a handsome casino at Noumea. New Caledonia.

But in those now distant times there were no flying services, and tourist vessels were few and far between, while the local business men could get all the gambling they wanted at the Noumea Club (Cercle Civil). On this account the idea of trying to make Noumea “the Monte Carlo of the Pacific” was quite wisely frowned on by the Administration.

Now that Noumea sometimes fool ishly described by Australian women tour ist-writers as “the Paris of the Pacific” — has become a weekly port of call for air travellers, the position has changed; so much so that the Administration has just given permission to erect a casino there.

The local population became dollar wealthy during the last three years of war, and even if companies controlling the gambling activities of the Principality of Monaco are not (as has been reported) behind the move, enough money for a casino could have been readily found locally.

In that case, the casino, though it would undoubtedly have attracted Australian and American tourists in particular, would probably have been on a smaller scale. What matters is that Monte Carlo management means efficient management.

Noumea, with such backing, really could become a unique entertainment centre in the South Seas, “the show place of the Southern Hemisphere.” as the Sydney “Telegraph” correspondent put it.

At the same time, Noumea, magnifi cently situated and endowed with a most beautiful harbour, really should make an attempt to become a cleaner and more sanitary town, and a big rebuilding and town planning job should be undertaken.

H.E.L.P.

The Fiji Peace and Reconstruction stamps, which were to have been with drawn at the end of 1946. are now to remain on sale until March 31, 1947.