For N. Cal. Nickel

[?]om Year Ahead For N. Cal. Nickel

HE New Caledonian nickel in dustry is expected to have a record year in 1956. n the 70 years between 1875 and 5. about 10 million tons of cel ore were extracted and ing that time, there was a pro ssive lowering of the ore’s mess. In the early mining days, richness was between 10 and per cent. Each year the value diminished as the tonnage ed was increased. The present mess is about 3 or 4 per cent, he New Caledonian mines pro ed, in 1954, 525,000 tons of nickel Final 1955 total is expected to i million tons, a record produc . In 1956 this total will be ;ed. has been revealed here that mese buyers will take a large ion of 700,000 tons which have i contracted for for export. r.C. is able to satisfy this export and, together with the needs the smelters at Noumea, the 1 extraction.of ore will be more i 1,200,000 tons for 1956. If rate of extraction continues Caledonia will have to turn

more and more to mining poor per centage ores.

The price of nickel on the French market has risen recently from 745 frcs to 800 frcs the kilo of metal The “International Nickel’’ with which the local Nickel Co. is allied is in a very flourishing state. Profits for the first 9 months of 1955 were 67 million dollars, an increase of 20 millions over the same period last year; and 2,500,000 dollars more than the total profit for the entire year of 1954.

In the light of these figures the New Caledonian Deputy in the French Parliament has asked why the Nickel Co. fought so bitterly and desperately to prevent a recent raising of salaries and privileges to workers in the smelters at Noumea.

These adjustments were long overdue. The number of fatal accidents in the smelters has reached a total of three for 1955. —Noumea Correspondent.

II Dr. Bengt Danielsson, who took part in the Kon Tiki drift in 1947, arrived in Sydney in January with his wife and small daughter. They will spend six months in Australia while Dr. Danielsson gathers material for a book.

Polynesian

Visitors

Recent visitors to the Polynesian Club in Sydney were Mrs.

Emmerar Brown (for merly Miss Crummer, of Ngatangiia, Rarotonga) and, right, Mrs. lira Bailey (formerly Miss Rongo, of Totikaveka, Rarotonga). Both are now residents of Sydney. —Photo by Parker Studios.