“New Hebrides Far From Ready For Independence”

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30953, 8 January 1966, Page 2

“New Hebrides Far From Ready For Independence”

The peoples of the New Hebrides were far from ready for independence and in effect led a spoon-fed existence, according to a Christchurch couple, Mr Barry King and his wife Joy, who have just returned after five years in the islands.

The backwardness of the people is understandable when it is considered that after 50 years of joint French and British administration the first secondary school is only now under construction. Mr and Mrs King spent three years in the north at Vureas where Mr King taught at the Anglican mission boys’ school. For the last two years they lived in the capital, Vila, where Mr King was a tutor at the British administration’s Teacher Training College, which opened four years ago to train pupils with primary education to be primary teachers.

Mr King considered that one of the major needs of the New Hebrideans was technical

education, yet in the face of all recommendations the British administration decided that the new secondary school would cater for those doing academic subjects. “They have had to import Indian labour to build it as there are not enough native carpenters,” said Mr King. During the last 50 years the missionaries have been responsible for seeing that the people received education and it is only during the last few years that both administrations have been building schools.

The mission schools did their best to impart technical training and managed to bring the brighter pupils up to secondary level when a few could go to Australia and New Zealand to complete their education.

Only about nine pupils a year went to Fiji, the Solomon Islands and New Guinea for medical, mechanical engineering, boat building, and radio training. Mr King said that with an academic secondary school, the pupils would not want to go back to their villages as they would with technical training, but would wish to go elsewhere.

Fees Required

The school would be able to take only 36 pupils annually and these would have fees to pay. The money factor would eliminate many and many others would not have reached the required standard to enter. The New Hebrideans did not think it worth while to pay for education. The French provided free schools but dis-

couraged their own missionaries.

“They are building schools near the Roman Catholic missions in an effort to discourage them. Pupils have left the mission schools for the free education,” he said. “Education for girls is proceeding slowly,” said Mrs King. “Parents do not encourage their daughters. Many are kept from school to mind the smaller children or tend the garden. Both Government and mission schools are short staffed.”

Two Approaches

Mr and Mrs King remarked on the different outlooks of the two administrations. The British were working slowly towards independence, but the French wished the people to be French. There was little contact between the two European groups except socially and at Government level. Mr King was a mission tutor at the Training College and found that it was not easy. The British officials adopted a schizophrenic attitude for he was looked upon as a Government tutor in some situations and as a missionary tutor in others. “They looked upon missionaries as strange beings and think we are not as wellqualified, which is ridiculous,” he said.

Last year, the British officials requested London to staff the college with Government tutors to replace the missionaries. On the understanding that this would happen, Mr King and the Presbyterian tutor, another New Zealander, resigned.

However, London refused the request and Mr King said this put the missions on the spot. It is not yet known when or how he and his fellow tutor will be replaced.

If the administrations have a poor educational record their medical work is much better. Hospital and clinical care is provided as well as mother craft courses. Shortly, the British will introduce birth control instruction. But a lot of work remains to be done. Mr and Mrs King say that if things continue to improve as they have done over the last five years, the situation will be much better.

Big Potential The New Hebrides have potential. The population is not great—just over 65,500. The people are happy, honest, and satisfied with the way they live. “The people do not realise what they could achieve. They have been spoon-fed too much. They need incentive,” said Mr King. There are vast tracts of land to be opened up and developed. Industrially, a lot more could be done. The economy is agricultural—copra, a little coffee, and cocoa. The French operate a manganese mine. Wild cattle thrive and recently a beef industry has started. A joint agricultural college has been opened. The people are not keen fishermen. The Japanese do the fishing and pay for the privilege. They send the canned fish back to the islands. The economy would not survive if independence came, said Mr and Mrs King. The native diet is predominently starchy. This leaves the people susceptible to European diseases. Those who live out of the towns are better off than those who do.

“Many are coming to the towns and find it very hard. They pay high rents for tin shacks and do not have enough land to grow food and they have too many children,” said Mrs King.

Fostering Unity Another great need is to foster a spirit of unity, among the islanders. Two years ago an internal airline was established. Landing strips are now being built. This will help to bring better contacts among the people. Mr King, who was chief scout commissioner for the islands, said the movement was making progress in breaking down island barriers. The boys were very interested in the movement and it should gain strength. As well as land scouts and cubs there are sea scouts and rovers. The scout movement is more extensive than guiding. “It has a big future,” said Mr King.

In addition to his other activities, Mr King was engaged on preparing the new arithmetic syllabus in readiness for decimal currency.

He is also studying for a degree in architecture and designed several chapels, a church, dormitories, which have been built and has plans for a Presbyterian bookroom, cum shop, cum flat on the drawing board. Mr King will be teaching shortly at the Kaikoura District High School. Both he and his wife felt their work in the New Hebrides had been a wonderful experience.’