Unrestricted Trade
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
In French Pacific Possessions
TAHITI, during the first nine months of 1946 exported far more than she imported. The favourable Tahitian balance of trade amounted to about 28 million francs. The exports amounted to 178,000,000 valued at 191,000,000 francs, principally phosphates from Makatea Is land sent to Australia and New Zealand and copra sent to France and the USA.
For the" nine months the Colony imported 20,000 tons of merchandise valued at 164,000,000 francs.
Luxury goods from France have been pouring into Tahiti and New Caledonia, and in New Caledonia expensive wines and perfumes are at least as readily ob tainable as necessities of life, although this Colony has an adverse trade balance.
Besides French manufactured cars, ex pensive automobiles from the USA have also been arriving in Noumea, which has far more automobile traffic than ever be fore, with apparently a complete absence of petrol restrictions. Caledonians expect a bad slump to hit the colony in the not too disant future, particularly if nothing is done to increase nickel exports and keep the Noumea smelters in full pro duction. During the first six months of 1947, New Caledonia had a trade deficit of 195,000,000 francs, shown as follows;
Quantity Value Imports 36,408 tons 270,000,000 francs Exports 16.932 tons 75,000,000 francs