New Caledonia
p. 114 · Read in the full issue
Peculiar Economy
OF
NEW CALEDONIA has received much publicity lately from journalists who went to the South Pacific Conference in Noumea in April. Most of these visiting observers were impressed by the domination which the nickel and chrome interests exercise over the Territory. The following, from a leading Australian daily, is typical: “We could make much more of our natural resources, I suppose.
But our economy is dominated by the nickel company. All the profit from mining and smelting goes out of the country.
“Consider this—New Caledonia is among the most highly mineralised countries of the world. The moun tains have only been scratched for nickel and chrome. We’ve got iron and cobalt and manganese. There are more than 600 nickel mines, and the nickel company controls all life on the mining fields. There’s no income tax here. How can there be?
“With nickel it’s the old story of
the South Seas—all the profits from trade invested outside the region.
How do we finance our public ser vices?
“France makes some grants, the rest comes from import and export duties. We can develop more if some of the profits remain. Do we want that? Well, we are very com fortable as we are.”
I, Mr - J - G - Munt, a resident of Papua for 46 years, and owner of Nivam Island, Deboyne Lagoon has retired from the active man agement of his plantation properties and is taking an extended holiday m England and the Continent! before settling down. His two sons are carrying on the plantations and trading interests.