THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1926, Page 6

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

According to a statement made by the Secretary for the Dominions (Mr. L. 0. M. S. Amery) in the House of Commons recently, negotiations have been re-opened with France concerning the New Hebrides condominium. The administration of the country under that arrangement has not been a success. It implies government by two Powers, with no demarcation of territory in which each Power’s Jaws are to apply, with two Resident Commissioners exercising ostensibly equal jurisdiction, a method that lias proved impotent and irritating to nationals of either Power. In the joint court, which was empowered to deal with native affairs and those involving suits between British and /French litigants, the same record of delays and weakness as in the general administration has obtained. Land and labour questions have been mishandled, and, if. the reports of missionaries and other British residents in and visitors to the group are to be believed, under French protection scandalous practices have been allowed to become established amongst both Europeans and natives. The reopening of the negotiations is probably due to the views expressed by Australia and New Zealand at the Imperial Conference. It lias been stated that the Australian Government suggested unofficially to the Imperial authorities that compensation to France for her Tights in the New Hebrides might form part of the negotiations for the payment of France’s war debt to Britain. Whether action will taken along these lines remains to be seen, but the present caricature of government should be ended. The British interest in the group is considerable, there being some hundreds of settlers residing there. They find their trade, especially with the native population, is handicapped by restrictions which British law and the British sense of responsibility for the well-being of unsophisticated natives, imposes upon, those who live and trade amongst (he latter. No such scruples or restrictions are allowed to interfere with the French trade or settler in the islands, with the result that the bulk of the native trade goes to them. From every point of view-the condominium is an anomaly, and should be ended.