Nh Government

Tonkinese Taxi Men Defy

ON last advices, 20 Tonkinese taxi drivers of Port Vila, New Hebrides, were still on strike against a joint decision of the Condominium Government that the legal fare with in a certain area should be 2/-. The Tonkinese (who run a number of Jeeps and a couple of old sedan cars for hire) had been charging what they liked—up to 10/- and 15/- some times. They simply robbed travel lers, like through passengers on the Morinda.

There now is in Port Vila a Ton kinese community of from 300 to 400. This settlement became possible when the authorities, in the war, failed to repatriate Indo-Chinese labourers. The latter then brought their women out; and now they live in a shanty-town about 4 miles from Vila, and are increasing rapidly in numbers. They tend to become petty traders, do not provide a de pendable labour force, and are generally undesirable.

As a result of the war, and of ad ministrative weakness, Asiatic com munities of this character have be come established in New Calelonia and New Hebrides.

Mr. and Mrs. John Stubbs and daughter Jacqueline have left Norfolk Island for two months holiday in Australia before going to Fiji, Mr.

Stubbs is with Cable and Wireless, Ltd., and has been transferred to the Suva office as manager.