Them Eat Cream

If They've No Bread. Let

From a Noumea correspondent

At a time when the French Administration is suggesting the pro duction of honey, trochus, shrimps, tuna, paper pulp and tourism to compensate for the loss of nickel revenue, Caledonians are now to get home-made cream plus more foreign currency if they wish to eat abroad.

As the dollar earnings of the ter ritory shrink millions below what Paris had planned for this time, Caledonians have been told that they could help recover some of the lost millions by producing more food at home and thus spending less ex change on foreign imports most of which come from Australia and New Zealand.

A preliminary step concerns dairy products which a new company, Socalait, is preparing for the Cale donian market, under the franchise of a French label, Yoplait. About October, a factory near Ducos,

Noumea was to begin supplying flavoured yogurt and cream dessert, as well as light cheeses. Basic ingre dient is powdered milk imported from France. Freshness and easy transport of the foods is assured, while packag ing is to bear the date limit for fresh consumption.

Meanwhile, Caledonians wishing to travel now have greater means of treating themselves well abroad. Since August, Caledonian tourists may take almost 50 per cent more foreign currency out of the territory—up to CFP90,900-worth (over SA7OO) with an extra allowance for business men. In addition, Caledonians can have double the original funds per mitted for the purchase of a house abroad, with a new limit of CFPS.4 million (almost $A45,000). It could mean a greater sprinkling of Cale donian apartments around the shores of Sydney Harbour.