Repatriation Is

Indo-Chinese Query

Problem In

New Caledonia

Prom Our Own Correspondent TF sufficient Indo-Chinese do not J- decide to go home before the winding-up of the repatriation scheme, the New Caledonia Admini stration will face a big problem.

There have even been suggestions of some sort of enforced repatriation, and the question has been referred to Paris.

Repatriation paid for by the Colony will come to an end with the sailing of the Norwegian ship Skaubryn, under charter to Messageries Maritimes, from Noumea with Indo-Chinese and Javanese repatriates.

Repatriation to their homelands is one of the terms of the indenture system by which these people came to New Caledonia.

About 600 Javanese have notified their intention of going home, and this will almost write off the Javanese community, which once numbered many thousands.

But very few Indo-Chinese have done anything about it, possibly because of a fear that repatriation will not be possible to areas which have been passed over to the Vietmmh. The Administration has explained, however, that under the terms signed at Geneva, repatria tion is covered.

Meanwhile, the commission which came from Indo-China to investi gate the possibilities of establishing Eurasian refugees in New Caledonia did not get far. It extracted a promise that some ten families would be admitted—but only on condition that they are agri cultural labourers.

Even this is meeting with strong local opposition, and it is reported that agriculturists are rare among the Eurasians.

The question of repatriating the Vietnamese came before the May session of the New Caledonian Assembly.

Members were told that the cost of the Skaubryn’s voyage to Indonesia will be 5,000,000 francs (£A30,000) and to Indo-China 7,- 000,000 francs.

The delicate problem of enforced repatriation has been referred to Paris for a decision.

Tuna Fishery Possibilities

The refugee question was men tioned in the course of a recent

Sydney press interview by Maurice Lenormand, a Deputvv the French National Assembly Vice-President of the New Ct donia Legislative Council, who ■ on his way back to Noumea ft; 18-HS.

Speaking of labour problems Lenormand said that although K Caledonia was ready and will! to offer contracts to displae persons of Indo-China who I been driven from their homes s the north, the political situatf there was proving such that firm and satisfactory arrangem© could be reached.

However, arrangements had 1 been concluded for a small numr oi part-European families fn that area to come on contracts, s probably more would follow.

M. Lenormand said that althov< a programme of economic expansa was under way in New Caledon* especially in the exploitation minerals, the labour problem y gradually becoming less acute m the fairly rapid natural population.

He could not say whether possibility of Fiji Indians as? labour source was still a live iss but he implied that first preferer would be towards French Uni labour sources.

M. Lenormand confirmed tl; there are moves afoot for 1 establishment of a tuna-hshii industry based at Noumea.

“More than one company” wok be involved in the industry, believed, and, if current negoti tions were satisfactory, the fishii would be done by Japanese contract.

M. Lenormand could not s whether American interests wr, involved, but he admitted that ttt was possible, in view of the vr to Noumea by a representative an American canning compas last year.

He believed that there might developments in the tuna indush in time for the next fishing seaso< in early 1956.

Further work on the favourah indications of oil in New Caledon still awaited the approval of finara from Prance, he said.

M. Lenormand spoke highly the present Governor of Nit Caledonia (M. Rene Hoffherr) wit he said, was a man very w qualified for the post and keen interested in local problems. t By bagging a 104 lb voriwuci j type of parrot fish) at Lakeba. hs\.

M. Marcel Schwart broke Fijj spearfishing record in April. Tl fish was about 5 ft long and neai * 2 ft from dorsal to belly. Not loic before, while in Brazil, M. Schwar established what is probably still I world record by shooting au capturing single-handed a 460 groper. He is making a colour fill in Fiji and went to Lakeba f scenes of traditional Fijian life.