Islands' Assemblies
p. 25 · Read in the full issue
Tension in N. Caledonia Less Power For French Islands' Assemblies
By Special Correspondents
The de Gaulle Government of the Fifth Republic of ranee has taken steps to remove the worst features of the oi Cadre (introduced by the discredited Government of the ourth Republic in 1957) so that stable and efficient adminis ation can be established in New Caledonia and French Poly ssia.
was reported late in March that lere was “dangerous” political Kcitement in Noumea, le Loi Cadre gave the French fic Territories almost complete government; and this was ‘r a common roll, where the > of Europeans and natives, ate and illiterate, were equal, le effect in each Territory was >trous. The native vote went rally in favour of parties which, e not Communist, were litely Leftist, and against the erty-owning and privileged es.
French Polynesia, at the end 957, the common roll brought power in the Assembly the T Party (Democratique des ilations Tahitiennes) led by Baptist Celan-Jerusalemy and anaa a Oopa; and it formed Government, with extended rs.
New Taxes New Caledonia, the Union lonien, led by Maurice rmand, defeated the moderate iblican Socialists, led by ges Chatenay, and took charge le Assembly and the Admini idn. each Territory, developments similar. The new Governments up an array of “Ministers”, ilete with secretaries and r-cars and liberal allowances; then, finding the Territory’s ial revenues quite inadequate their manifold and generous 3ses, they introduced new , which bore heavily upon the >rty-owning classes.
Polynesia, the inevitable revolt in April, 1958; in New Cale t, on June 18, 1958. each case, the local French rnor suspended or dismissed ocal government, wholly, or in and himself assumed govern al powers.
Mr. Lenormand Resigns
3se events are fully described in ssues of PIM of May, April, and August, 1958. In August, expressed the view that con d government of these socially /eloped Territories under the 'adre was impossible, while any
attempt to withdraw the common roll and curtail the powers that had been taken under it, would cause political trouble.
Now, on March 22, Mr. Maurice Lenormand, who has been prominent in New Caledonia’s public life for several years, a member of the Paris Chamber of Deputies, and virtually Premier for the last two years, formally resigned his offices as vice-president of the Assembly and Minister of Finance.
He said that the Government of France had taken from the Terri torial Assembly control over appointment of Ministers, control over the public servants, over the police, over telecommunications and over Radio Noumea.
In a public statement, Mr.
Lenormand was very bitter about the changes, and indicated his belief that Paris had gone back on the promises made to New Cale donia last year, when NC voted overwhelmingly in favour of the de Gaulle Constitution.
He said the Assembly was being “dispossessed of the principal rights and elementary prerogatives essen tial to proper government” (pre sumably, he means self-govem
ment) and now was a government only in name, without substance.
Mr. Lenormand said also that his Melanesian supporters were being deprived of their right to vote in the poll to elect a member of the French Senate “by an inadmissable trick”; and this change now en dangered the equality-of-voting rights of white and black electors. (There has been no announce ment that the common roll is being removed: but apparently the de Gaulle government is taking steps to very considerably curtail the powers given to these Territorial Assemblies in 1957 under Loi Cadre.
Mr. Lenormand himself complained that “ Loi Cadre is being replaced by government by decree”.)
Funds Being Withheld
Earlier, in the Assembly, Mr.
Lenormand protested angrily against the fact that Paris now was withholding funds which the local government had understood were allotted for public works and for housing. This, apparently, was causing much embarrassment, and he said it would lead to the resignation of the government.
These developments, he declared, were being watched with delight by the “opposition—represented by Noumea's Big Business”.
A Noumea correspondent says there is so much political tension “in the air” in Noumea that little more will be needed to spark off “another June 18”.
It is reported that a monster anti-Viet demonstration is being organised, for an early date. There are many Vietnam (or Tonkinese) people domiciled in New Caledonia, and their sympathies generally are Communist.
Election of Senator On March 8, the people of Noumea went to the polls to elect a new Town Council.
There were three parties in the field —Republican Socialists, Union Caledonien, and a trade union group, regarded as Communist.
Out of 10,000 electors, only 4,000 voted; and as this was not sufficient under the law, to elect a Council, another poll was taken on March 16.
This time, 5,000 voted, and elected a Council consisting of Republican Socialists and business men. The Lenormand party was defeated.
This election has significance, be cause, under the new laws, this Council is one of the bodies allowed to vote in the election of a Senator.
Previously, the Senator election was dominated by the Assembly. As a result of the Town Council election, it is considered certain that the Senator to be elected by New Caledonia in April will be a Republican Socialist, instead of (as recently) a Lenormand nominee.