Travellers and Currency In New Caledonia

New Caledonia

ALTHOUGH New Caledonia is eager to obtain Australian exchange, the Government is not doing anything to make easier the conditions of entry of Australian tourists into the Colony.

One of the chief irritations is the Bureau Economique.

When the overseas traveller arrives in Noumea, he is forced to hand over to officials every bit of currency he pos sesses. He gets a receipt for it, of course, and the money is sent to the Bank. Then the traveller is obliged to go to the Bureau Economique to get a cheque-book, and sign various docu ments. He then is allowed to sign cheques drawn on the bank.

When he is ready to leave the Colony, the whole complicated and irritating pro cess is put into reverse. Certain French officials behave like little dictators, and the bank (the Bank of Indo-China, of course) appears to have been given com plete control of exchange in every shape and form.

Recent visitors to New Caledonia have complained to the “PIM” of these con ditions, and of the fearfully high cost of everything; and they say that any one planning a pleasure visit to the Colony should take the famous advice of Mr. Punch —and “Don’t”.