Bitter Political

Struggle In

New Caledonia

Prom a Special Correspondent

Noumea, Aug. 7,

THE political situation here (Ju PIM, p. 15) is more confus than ever.

Under the influence of M. Lem mand, the Leftist Deputy for NC who wants a common roll, enfn chising the majority of natives—l Chamber of Deputies threw out 1 Bill giving NC a new constitution.

Meanwhile, the term of 1 General Council here expired ( January 19). Pending a new Bill, 1 Chamber of Deputies extended 1 life of the Council, When the lat found that the vote authorising new lease of life included the Co munist Party, it resigned in a bo on May 19. The Colony since 1 been without a Council.

The Chamber of Deputies was debate the NC situation—votes 1 natives being the chief issue June 15. It did not do so.

It now has been arranged that Chamber of Deputies mission will : vestigate the position in NC, Septei ber 11-18. Seven deputies are coi

ing, representing respectively I

Gaullists, French People’s Rail Socialists, Radical Socialists, Coi munists, Centre Right, Independen Meanwhile, a bitter struggle pi ceeds here between the extrec Leftists, led by Lenormand, w] want a common roll, and a supported by the Reds; the power! commercial interests, whose influen here in the past has been predon nant; the middle classes, who w£ neither the common roll nor the t interests; and the Roman Catho] Church, which favours the comuu roll (probably because it condem the big interests) but is anti-Cor munist.

Europeans generally argue that tl common roll will mean the econom ruin of NC.

That popular couple, Mr. ai Mrs. Paul Mason of Inus Plants tion, Bougainville, are the proi parents of a daughter, Ingr Annabel, born on June 23. The ne Miss Mason is the first child to I bom at St. Francis Mission Hoi pital, Tearouki, which is now Marist Mission station, but pr viously was the plantation of tH late Mr. Chris Palkiner and Mi Sue Palkiner.