Indo-China

Pulation Problems

N. Caledonia

Returning Vietnamese to Indo-China

Noumea, May 25.

T long last, the local authorities in New Caledonia have awakened to the danger to the ole Territory that lies in the > g e and rapidly growing com mity of Indo-Chinese, rhe latter was “dumped” here m > war period by the breakdown the repatriation provisions of the lentured labour laws. The labour could not be returned to Saigon 1941-46. and were allowed to (There are now over 4,500 of them 458 men. 379 women, and 2,879 ildren on January 31. 1956) and 3y are increasing with amazing ;ed. It is regarded as incredible it 379 women should have had 97 children—but it is so.

Mter the war, there were large nmunities of both Javanese and nkinese —now called Indonesians d Vietnamese—in New Caledonia; d local authorities were not in

tent about repatriation because

was hoped they would help to anter the marked shortage of K>ur. „ Fhe insistence of the new Indo sian Government on the return the Javanese to the homeland ide the retention of the Tonkinese parently even more desirable.

But the Tonkinese proved not so luable. In both New Caledonia d New Hebrides they do not wish labour—they much prefer to run dcabs, and keep little stores, and aerwise engage in private trading.

Fhis has given the NC authorities •iouslv to think. They have noted, ;o. that while the Javanese, since 55. have dropped from 3,450 to 31. a good many Javanese are turning to NC—they do not like e new Indonesia.

Many of the remaining Javanese ve sought French citizenship, and eir children, born in New Cale nia, are accepted as genuine haoulis” (name, from the prevail g eucalypt, given to local-born).

NOTHER factor is that Indo le. Chinese are of less interest to the French as fellow-citizens.

Dithern Tonking now is Viet inh, a Communist, anti-European ate; and the Saigon area now is iet-Namh nominally anti-Com unist, but demanding full inde -ndence from the French.

There is an organiastion called Tietnam union for peace and iendship with France,” with head larters in France, and a branch it has appeared in New aledonia.

Newspapers and public men, discussing the population situation here remind the community that New Caledonia now has a population of 74,874 as against 64,459 in 1955; this included 35.092 Melanesians (of whom 21,939 live in New Caledonia and 13,153 in the dependent Loyalty Islands) ; that of persons of European status, twice as many are born each year as of native Melanesians, and twice as many Vietnamese as Europeans: and that there have been certain anti-French manifestations among the Vietnamese, and an attempt (so far, unsuccessful) to form a Communist organisation among them.

A meeting of the Conseil General of NC, late in May, after full con-

sideration of the P' ob ' e ™'. unanimously that the of the Vietnamese population be repatn ated “as soon as possible, The great majority of the Indo- Chinese wish to remain here, and they almost certainly will fight the decision, and various legal comph cations probably will ensue, Most New Caledonians heartily endorse the decision. Newspaper writers say that the removal of the Tonkinese will improve the socio political position, and may assist the housing situation, now acute, An interesting development is the arrival in NC of Tahitians, seeking employment. The Caledonien, in early May, brought 158 passengers from Tahiti, and they included 90'

labourers for the hydro-electn station to be built at Yate.

It is said that the economic pos tion of Tahiti is alarming—n. enough industries to support the ii creasing population.