NEW HEBRIDES.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1925, Page 4

NEW HEBRIDES.

PROBLEM OF MIXED LAWS. SYDNEY, Nov. 18. A problem that is continually vexing Australian missionaries, especially those of the Presbyterian Church, is the question of the control of the New Hebrides. The matter of bringing the islands under the entire control ol Britain is the subject of ever-recurring agitation by the Presbyterians, as they urge that the Condominium tit present existing between Britain and France is disastrous from the point of view of the natives. The system of administering the laws is. according to Presbyterian missionaries, cumbersome and ridiculous, as there is a law for the French, one for the British, and one for the natives. One of the most; distinguished of Presbyterian missionaries, the Rev. Frederick Paton. recently returned to Melbourne and he issued a grave warning to Australia regarding the future of these islands. “f regard this question as one "I the most serious problems Australia has ever faced,*’ said Mr Paton. “null I cannot understand the indifference of the Australian public towards the matter, which is rapidly developin'! into a serious menace. Under the Condominium. equal rights are assigned to Frame and Britain, but in practice the French dominate the islands, and it is because the interests of Britain and France are so divergent that the position is so serious. The three outstanding considerations are the strategic importance of the islands, the trae\e possibilities, and the welfare ol the natives, Asiatics are being imported into the islands by the thousands. and as in Fiji, there is the pros pert of tho New Hebrides beeomin' entirely Asiatic. MENACE TO AUSTRALIA. “France is indifferent to this, bin Australia should realise the danger o having a large Asiatic population a her verv doors, or she will be facet with the same difficulty as confront America in Hawaii, where 50 po coni, of the population are Japanese The New Hebrides contain the fines hurricane-proof harbours in the West orn Pacific, which would he idea! base for submarines and aircraft, fh French recognise no colour bar. am their ambitions to extend the h rone empire in the Pacific are fostered b tho Napoleonic spirit which still ani mates France. This predominance i the Pacific is supported and fnstero' by her increasing trade. Flench line of steamers are competing with Paeifi anti Australian lines, and tire lieavil subsidised by the Government. 1* rent'll trade is favoured by the peculiar geographical circumstances, since French ships are able to make the round voyage from France via the Pacific ami Panama, thus handling two or three different cargoes anil making separate profits on each.” After referring to the future possibilities of the islands. Air Paton said (ban as far as the welfare of the natives was concerned. 1* ranee was not

"playing the game,” but was exploit ho system of indentured labour on a wholesale scale, ’ll Idle the British laws regarding the recruiting of labour and the general treatment ol natives were rigidly enforced, the French law was administered with notorious leniency. The consequence was that French, settlers prospered, while British and Australian failed, ami the value of ilio islands to Australai as a trading centre was negligible. ‘‘France is perfectly justified in attempting to establish her hegemony in the Pacific.” Mr Baton concluded, ‘‘hut those who are familiar with the facts and figures and have followed the position through all its singes arc alive to the dangers and are convinced that the time has come when Austialia should make a determined eflort to assert British control in the Xeiv Hebrides,”