The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1914. THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 214, 10 March 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1914. THE NEW HEBRIDES.

The administration—or maladministration —of the group of more than forty volcanic islands in Western Polynesia, known as the New Hebrides, has become what is generally described as a burning question. This outcome of a divided authority between France and Britain is not surprising. The institution of tho condominium was palpably one of those diplomatic compromises that look well on paper, but have not the slightest hope of turning out a success. For some long while past there has been, to put it mildly, a growing dissatisfaction, and tiie marvel would have been if it were otherwise. It must be remembered that of the population of some 100,000 souls, there is a large proportion of natives, the majority of whom are cannibals. There are both Protestant and Roman Catholic mis- ' sions, three separate Courts of Justice, the first being composed of French and British judges, tho president and publi; prosecutor being appointed by the permanent arbitrator, the King of Spain (to which offices a Spaniard and a Dutchman have been appointed). There are also British and French National Courts, which deal with offenders of thoso nations, tho former strictly and tho latter laxly. Under the AngloFrench agreement made in 1904 the subjects of - the two Powers enjoy equal rights of residence, personal protection and trade, each Power retaining jurisdiction over its subjects, and neither exercising a separate control over the group. Citizens of other Powers must chooso within six months between the legal systems of the two Powers, failing which (ho two High Commissioners decide under which system they should bo placed. The laxity of the French system and the comparative freedom it gives from punishment for crimes and cruelties, as well as violation of the liquor laws, naturally acts as a factor in the choice made by tho class of now settlers attracted thither, the result being that a marked preference is shown for the French regime. It is much the same as if a child were given the option of attending a school where corporal punishment is inflicted for every offence, or one where punishment was very rare, and the young hopeful could exercise his own sweet will. As a consequence of this remarkable judicial jumble caused by the mixed law scandals are frequent. Moreover, there is a joint Naval Commission, which sits only once yearly, and it has been stated that it is by no means a rare event for natives to die in prison whilst awaiting trial. Added to all this, the judges of the joint Court have small knowledge of each other's language or legal system, and the natives, as a rule, ore ignorant of any language but their own. Let it be imagined what would be the state of affairs in New Zealand if the same sort of muddle existed between the two races—the natives and the pakehas. Nothing but trouble and chaos would result. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that the cry for making an end of the condominium has become insistent. The question of how this is to accomplished is beset with considerable difficulty. Correspondence has taken place between the Commonwealth and the Imperial Governments on the subject of purchase or exchange, as Australia is decidedly opposed to France acquiring possession of the whole group. A suggestion has been made in the direction of dividing the islands equally between the two Powers, ,and as Britain seems indisposed either to purchase or exohaugc other territory for the Frencli interest in the New Hebrides, this method of solving the problem is deserving of attention. At tho same time, it would be by no means certain that this partition would be a success, for it has all the possibilities of serious trouble in the future between France and Britain. The safest and most effective plan woulu seem to be that of purchase, but it is doubtful if France would entertain the proposal. That some steps must be taken to effect a thorough reform of the present administration is evident, and as a preliminary it would seem that a conference between the parties chiefly interested—Australia, Britain and France—would clear the ground for further action, and enable the prospects of a solution to be ascertained.