"WORSE THAN EVER."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 14

"WORSE THAN EVER."

NEW HEBRIDES CONDITIONS.

The' New Hebrides Condominium has been strongly condemned by British residents, most of whom have declared for a partition of the islands in preference to tho present state of things, and even tho French, who seem to do pretty well as they iikc, with out let or hindranco .admit that it is not a success as -far aa making for stability goes. Writing in the "Southern Cross Log," tho Bishop of Melanesia lias thus contrasted the. conditions in the New Hebrides with those in tho Solomon Islands under British rule:—"We Tan across from the Solomons to Torres Islands, passing out of the British Protectorate int<) the sphere ruled conjointly by the British and French Governments. Tho whole atmosphere seems changed here, as welj as tho Government. Tho white man is predominant, and the native is no longer tho froo, happy child of nature to be met in the Solomons and Santa Cruz. There are over 800 Frenchmen and over 300 British in what are called the New Hebrides, a name which covers not only thoso islands but tho Banks and Torres as woll. When tho Condominium was proclaimed for the government of these islands we welcomed it, believing, that tho lawlessness of past days would give way to order and justice for the natives. But everyone knows how greatly we have been disappointed. By almost general oonsent things are worse than over. Grog is still sold quite openly everywhere to tho people, ana they complain that thoy and their wives are being .kidnapped. Wo report outrages and breaches of tho law to tho two Governments, but nothing is done. Tho reason given is that there is no ship availablo to oolleet witnessos needed for the trial of offenders. Vila is the seat of goverment, and tho hillsides there are covered with tho palatial residences of tho officials. But tha arm of the law is shortened, raid does not reach the outlying islands. Indeed, it allows grog to bo sold to tho natives in Vila itself, or, at any rate, does 1 riot prevent it." . j. ■ r The Bishop mentions that on one of the islands lie camo across a young white woman who had lriarriod ono of the natives in Queensland, wae now living amongst his tribesmen in tho bush as brat she could.