Poor Prospects For

N. Cal. Chrome

Prom Our Own Correspondent A PESSIMIST view of the chrome market has been given by the French Minister for Industry and Commerce in answer to New Caledonian demands for assistance in marketing local ore.

He said that the physical structure of New Caledonian chrome is such that it is difficult to work and must be mixed with other chrome.

The chrome market is highly com petitive, with outlets diminishing, and although the Local Assembly has made an effort by lowering the export tax, this has not sufficed to lower the cost price of the ore. The latest figures, per metric ton, are as follows:

Russian chrome resembles the ore mined in New Caledonia. In the new French-Russia trade agree ment, the final figures of chrome ore to be bought, was 15,000 tons in stead of the 35,000 originally pro gosed. ! Up to now, only 5,000 tons ave been bought.

In 1955, France proposes to buy about 15,000 tons of ore in New Caledonia. The Minister concluded his report by stating that if during

the year, the output of the French steel works increased then corre sponding increased quantities of chrome ore will be purchased in NC.

The Royal Canadian cruiser Ontario paid its fifth visit to Suva in January, en route to Australia and New Zealand to take part in combined training exercises.

A stone from Westminster A donated by Mr. Juxon Bartc former Colonial Secretary in has been incorporated into the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathe Suva. The stone was unveiled special service conducted by Bishop in Polynesia on Januar and attended by the Governor Lady Garvey.

Fes.

Russian chrome . 12,250 Rhodesian . 12,600 Turkish and Iranian . . 14,000 New Caledonian . 15,050