Japs For New Caledonia?

JAPANESE and Chinese labour may be introduced into New Caledonia.' At a meeting in Paris of the French Societe de Nickel, the company which mines practically the whole of New Cale donia’s nickel output, and on whose acti vities the Colony largely depends, the board indicated that in addition to a greater degree of mechanisation, it is considering applying through official channels for the introduction of Chinese or Japanese labour under strict control.

This labour would, of course, replace the Javanese and Indo-Chinese labour hither to employed but now considered unsatis factory.

Owing to slow resumption of work at the Le Harve refinery, and coal difficulties with Australia, Noumea’s smelters have been working only part time. Last deli veries under war contracts were made to the USA in mid-1945, in which year losses amounted to 17 million francs.

Capital of the company is to be in creased from 354 to 703 million francs.

It was formally announced at the end of the financial year that Mr. R. J. Nos worthy and Mr. L. Armstrong had retired from the Board of Directors of Burns, Philp & Co., Ltd. Each had had over 60 years service with the Big Firm. The new directors are Mr. P. T. W. Black and Mr. D. W. Cross, both of whom have long records of service

Mr. W. B. Ryan, assistant manager of BP interests in Port Moresby, arrived in Sydney recently on a business trip.