"Significant Prog " In

The New Hebrides In 1962

The New Hebrides had made “significant progress in many fields” during 1962, according to the British and French Resident Commissioners when they opened the sixth session of the New Hebrides Advisory Council.

RHE Commissioners, Mr. A. M.

Wilkie and Monsieur M. elauney, said agricultural produc ■n had recovered and expanded fol wing the drop caused by the 1959 rlone; the Condominium’s economy id been diversified by the export manganese from the CFPO mine Forari; investment in buildings and irmanent installations at Vila and into had increased; and there had ;en improvements in air and sea mmunications both externally and emally.

The New Hebrides is jointly ad inistered by France and Britain. lExportS|Of copra for the year were pected to be close to the 1959 :ord of 35,067 tons —about 34.000 is compared with 32,362 tons in 61.

Cocoa exports were expected to ich 700 tons compared with 617 is in 1961, and coffee exports were io expected to be up—24o tons mpared with 217.

“An important advance,” the Com ssioners said, “is an increase in the port of frozen fish, which will lount to 4,700 metric tons as posed to 3,673 tons in 1961. It is imated that the figure will reach 100 metric tons in 1963.

“Perhaps the most notable momic development in 1962 has sn the commencement of the ex

port of manganese from the CFPO mine at Forari. This year (1962) it is estimated that 14,468 tons will be exported. The figure for next year is expected to be 60,000 tons.”

The Commissioners said that the world price of copra had shown some recovery and there were indica tions that it would remain firm. The return to New Hebrides producers had improved as a result of reduc tions in the certificate of origin and freight rates.

The total value of exports for 1962 in sterling was estimated at £1,925,000 compared with £1,697,444 in 1961. On the other hand, the value of imports had dropped slightly.

“It is encouraging to note, “the Commissioners said, “that investment in building and penrianent instal lations at Vila and Santo has in creased.

“New buildings and installations have been completed at Santo, while at Vila a new hotel and other new commercial buildings are in the course of construction in the centre of the town.

“All these permanent works reflect a belief in the economic future of the Group. Not the least of the im portant developments is the fact that an experienced overseas construction firm has seen fit to make a sub-

New Church:

Aluminium is a feature of this re cently completed Re organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Tahiti —all doors and screens being of aluminium.

The aluminium sec tions were supplied by Wunderlich Ltd.

The architect was Jack Favie, and the builders. Enterprise Munier Bres.