High Costs in N.C.

A NOUMEA builder, presenting figures to justify the very high cost of building in New' Cale donia, showed the enormous rise in costs that has taken place there since 1939.

In 1939, according to these figures, labour and materials were only a tenth of to-day’s prices. Labourers then reecived 25 francs per day.

To-day they receive 300 francs (£A2 2/6). A tradesman earns double that—and the builder im plied that the amount of work done per day was less to-day.

Output of dry rubber from Koitaki Para rubber plantations for April was 52,714 lb