Renewed Optimism In N.
p. 84 · Read in the full issue
Caledonia
MR. H. BONNEAUD, Noumea manager of the big trading firm of Ballandes, has been re-elected President of the New Caledonian General Council.
In his first speech after re-election he suggested that the rise in optimism re garding the economic future of the Colony was due to energetic action taken by the Council to maintain the Pacific franc at its present level.
He referred also to the 50.000 tons of US coal being received by the nickel in dustry under the Marshall Plan, but added that, with the new Canberra agreement, under which New Caledonia is delivering timber to Australia, he ex
nected Australia tn v P p n ™ supplies of coal to the (?olonv r mcrease 65 01 coal t 0 the Colony. He referred with satisfaction to the Javanese labour agreement, and said that he believed now that the chrome ore tar get of 100,000 tons for 1949 might even be surpassed. The choice of Noumea as head quarters for the South Pacific Commission was also gratifying, and he congratulated the French delegation which had con ducted the discussions.