THE NEW HEBRIDES QUESTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1416, 14 May 1886, Page 3

THE NEW HEBRIDES QUESTION.

[“Otago Daily Times.”]

The first thing for Parliament to do is to lead the Government back into the right path on the Now Hebrides question. Wo trust that Maj >r Atkinson—or, failing him, some independent nemder—\r ill at cnce move an amendment to the Addresa-iu-Reply expression the wish of Parliament that the Government should leave no stone unturned to prevent 'he annexation of the Now Hebrides. fho resolution should be carefully worded so as to make it clear that there is no inten tiou of treating the question as a par y one. It would neither bo tolerable that France should be allowed to annex the New Hebrides for the sake of keeping the Stout-Vogel Government in office, nor is it desirable that Miniate: s should be turned out on what is a side issue to the general policy before the country ; but it is all-important th>>t the voice of Now Zealand should bo clear and strong npon this question, and that its verdict should bo promptly given. We t eed not again point to the reasons which give the opinion of New Z aland special weight at this juncture ; briefly, they lie in our having a greater interest in the Pacific question generally than any Australian colony, in our comparative diaintorestedness with regard to these particular islands, and mere especially in the want of unanimity in Australia, which makes every additional opinion of consequence Neither need we go again over the grounds we have so repeatedly stated against the

annexation. Wo are confident that every tr-' New Zealander who has carefully &*<ght oat the question is with us. The mischief is that Ministers have nut thought it out. We do not wish to blame them bo much as they deserve ; bnt what could be more feeble than Mr Stout’s attitude ? —unless it be his despatches and letters upon the subject. After much wavering, he has now gone over entirely to the French ; and in his letter to the Ilev T. R. Cairns we find him pleading thoir cause and trying to win over the Presbyterian body to yield their rights as he is yielding those of the Colony. He appears to think that it is merely a question of the interests of the Presbyterian missionaries, when he is really sowing see s of discord, of which our sons may reap a terriole harvest, and throwing principle to the winds. We are ashamed that the Premier of New Zealand should propose to connive at one wrung for the sake of preventing another should allow the Colony to be “ bounced ” into submission to the French annexation of that to which they have no title, for fear of the French threat of filling the Pacific with convicts—a threat which it would ruin them to carry • out.