Autonomy Of

The Tongue For

Caledonians

The mid-year season of duelling contests is on in Noumea, witn local personalities spending several weeks in spectacular combat against members of the French hierarchy. The venue, once again, was the Territorial Assembly, where French civil servant Michel Leval lois, single-handed, faces the thrusts of the 35 elected councillors. The contest has been particularly fierce this session, with the Caledonians struggling to defend islanders’ in terests in an economic situation over which they have visibly no control.

Mr Levallois, as Secretary- General of the territory, is repre sentative in the House of Gover nor Louis Verger, head public servant on the island, nominated by Paris. As attacks against the French Government have become increasingly vehement, Mr Leval lois has been particularly alert in pointing out which thrusts are not allowed, being “outside the com petence” of the Caledonian As sembly.

In the past, this has especially been the case when members have wished to protest over French methods of recruitment in the island’s public service. More re cent incidents have concerned the Caledonians’ protest over the French nuclear tests and the ad ministration’s method of awarding local contracts to major French companies for public works.

In the case of the nuclear tests protest, when the Assembly voted 18 to 15 to condemn the testing of atomic weapons, the House was promptly informed that its decision was void and of no conse quence, since such a matter relat ing to the defence of France was outside its competence.

A second heated debate con cerned the lack of work for Cale donian enterprises while big French construction companies continue to operate in the terri tory. The representative of the French public service then told the Assembly that they had no right to look into the methods by which public works contracts are let out.

While certain Caledonian poli ticians urged the repatriation of some powerful French interests,

Mr Levallois strongly rejected any charges of dishonesty and protested at these moves to cast discredit upon the island’s French Administration.

Two Melanesian members charged the French Administration with treating Caledonian elected men with contempt while Assembly debates are futile and powerless.

Maurice Lenormand condemned a system allowing the governor to act as “king and dictator”. Mr Levallois replied that like prefects (civil servants) in France, the governor does not have to answer to a local assembly.

Meanwhile, in an exasperated

bid to clarify the nickel industry situation, the Assembly recently urged unanimously that invitations to come and address the Assembly on their plans should be sent to representatives of the three out side mining companies interested, as well as to members of the two Paris ministries for Industrial De velopment and Overseas Terri tories.

It all seems to suggest that as long as they run short on execu tive control of the island, the Territorial Assembly will still be left free to continue amusing the Caledonians with any amount of verbal gymnastics.