Only one problem

French Minister soys . . .

Only one problem in Tahiti: How to stay prosperous

From a Papeete correspondent

French Polynesia, according to

the French Secretary of State for Overseas Territories, Mr. Michel

Inchauspe, has only one major

problem—how to stay pros

perous.

Mr. Inchauspe, who took charge of the Overseas Territories Department after the French general elections in July, said this in Tahiti in September in the course of a familiarisation tour of France’s Pacific territories.

Addressing local notabilities soon after arriving in Tahiti, Mr. Inchauspe said, in effect, that thanks to the nuclear testing project, French Poly nesia was playing an important role in the “great national enterprise” which would ensure France’s inde pendence.

This had resulted in profound and rapid changes in the territory, some of which had possibly been too rapid.

However, the changes had brought full employment and a general rise in the standard of living.

Now, the territory’s only problem was to “consolidate the advantages” of the present situation and stay prosperous.

He denied that France was only interested in the territory as a nuclear testing base. How otherwise, he said, could one explain the large sums that the government had invested in edu

cation and socio-educational equip ment?

At a Press conference several days later, Mr. Inchauspe said that French aid to French Polynesia would not cease when the nuclear testing project closed down. One new project that the government envisaged was the creation of a oceanographic research institute, which would pave the way for the exploitation of the territory’s lagoons and surrounding seas.

“We have in view, in particular,”

Mr. Inchauspe said, “the develop ment of marine cultures and deep

sea fishing, which should lead, amoi other things, to the establishment ( a tuna-canning industry.”

Mr. Inchauspe said the governme would continue to support eve: development in the field of tourisi and in the traditional industries < agriculture and cattle-raising.

On political matters, Mr. Inchaus] was vague, cautious and sometim completely silent.

He refused to be drawn on oi set of questions put to him concer ing relations between his governme and the majority parties in the loc Territorial Assembly which ha repeatedly demanded internal government and the cessation nuclear testing (see panel).

Mr. Inchauspe’s only concession this field was to say that the gove ment would review the territon statut (constitution) “if French Pol nesia desires it”. This would be do as part of a [de Gaulle-inspired] pi to provide French regional authoriti with wider powers.

Nothing was said by the Minisl to give credence to a news rep< which has since emanated frc Noumea, suggesting that Fran plans to abolish the Assemblies Tahiti, New Caledonia and Wal and set up a single Pacific regi called France Australe, under o Assembly with no taxing powers a which would act only as advisers the Paris government.