Drastic Steps
p. 93 · Read in the full issue
Against HCL
Noumea, Sept. 20.
FOLLOWING representations by the High Commissioner (M.
Grimald) and the New Cale donian parliamentary representa tives, the French Colonial Minister has intimated that amendments will be made to the recently-intro duced financial laws governing foreign exchange.
The 20 per cent, tax on certain imports will be lifted —these being mostly foodstuffs, building mat erials (including cement) and cer tain necessities for cattle stations.
These amendments may stop a rise in the cost of living.
In its campaign to keep prices normal in Noumea, the Adminis tration recently prosecuted several retail storekeepers. Both Europeans and Indo-Chinese were charged with “illegal raising of prices”.
Fines ranged from 100,000 to 6,C00 francs (£7OO to £42). One (a Euro pean second offender) was sen tenced to a month’s imprisonment —sentence suspended. Several Indo-Chinese shops have been ordered to close, for varying periods. t Mr. Phil Scully, of Posts and Telegraphs, Lae, New Guinea, sailed on October Shansi for leave in Aus tralia.