THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 165, 6 April 1908, Page 6

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

POSSIBILITY OF TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND. THE IMPERIAL, ASPECT. Dr. Bowie, medical missionary in tho Naff Hebrides, who is now visiting Wellington, was interviewed by a Dominion reporter in regard to tho political and economic situation in those islands. "The convention which was proclaimed last December by His Excellency the High Com. missioner of the Western Pacific anil by the Governor of New Caledonia, ushers in a.new era," said Dr. Bowie. " Hitherto there lias boon no means of suppressing crinio in the group, but now both Governments, English and French, will do their utmost to promote law and order.. They have agioed to prevent the sale of alcoholic liquors to the Natives, and to suppress all Native risings. , What Might Have Besn. "If Britain had cared to exert herself in the eighties or early nineties, she could iiave annexed the group, but .that day is past, and. we have to be satisfied with dual control aa tho nest best thing, with tho hope, that by-and-by'British influence will gam such ail ascendancy that the group will ultimately bo taken over. There is, however, no licpe of that unless special exertions arc made. France is at present doing her utmost to foster her trade in the New Hebrides. Tho French settlers have always had all the help that their Govei-nment could give them. They have had grants of land, the recruiting of labour has been made easy for them, and they get a rebate of half tho duty on all the produco they sond to any. French porh. English Settlers' Difficulties! "Tho English settlers, on tho other hand, have had a Jiard uphill fight. The Australian duty on coffee is so high that it is useless to send it to Sydney, and the English planters, with one or two exceptions, have rooted up their coffee plants. The coffee is not inferior, for some time ago samples were sent to London, and were adjudged to be worthy- of sc.cond place in the world's market. The freight and transhipment charges are, however, so costly as to prevent any profitable export trade in that direction. Cocoanut and rubber plantations are now the ideal of the British planter, but, in the meantime, ho wants to grow maize, and for this pre duct also ho finds the Australian market practically closed against him by a duty, which renders competition with the, Australian-grown article • impossible. Last December, Australia made a concession to tho New Hebrides of a rebate of half tho duty on maize up to tho-valuo of £500. That is, ,on the face of 'it, utterly inadequate, and only the earliest shippers in. tho season get tho .benofit of it. The banana trade with Sydney also , fell through, for Australia is practically closed against Now Hebridean produce. ■'■:■'. >

"Hands Across the Sea.!' " What tho planters want," continued Dr. Bowie, "is a direct line of steamers.between Auckland, Wellington, and the New Hebrides. Tho New Hebrides could send any quantity of bananas, oranges, limes, lemons, pineapples, r and all kinds of tropical fruits. .Auckland, is ' ■500 miles nearer than .Sydney to the New Hebrides. New Zealand could also obtain copra for- soap-making from the New, Hebrides, and some parts of the group could •. grow, excellent sugar cane. There would ho. no difficulty about return cargoes,, as' thero would bei all the miscellaneous goods 'which ', have hitherto been obtained through Sydney. For the Empire. "This is the only way in which the New Hebrides can bo kopt for. Britain. Otherwise, the group mil quickly go over' entirely .to- 5 Franco. Tho lino' of steamers that is wanted would have to be subsidised by (ho New Zealand Government, and it would l ot pay at first, but I am convinced-that later on'it would pay'w6ll. : The strategic valuo of the group is also great, and I am told by naval experts that it would bo a: huge mistake to let it pass altogether out of British'control.' .'Ypu may remember that the late Mr. Keddpn. had this matte'r..' very much.'at .'heart,' arid,-" owing to his efforts, tenders were called for a" line of steamers between this country, and 1 they New Hebrides, but, I supposed the subsidy asked for was greater than the Government could give. At any rate, uothirig has been done. Tho Higli,Commissioner'has said ' that he will do his utmost to have a line of steamers run -. between . Fiji . and the- New Hebrides. If that were done, there should be no, difficulty in extending the service to Auckland and Wellington."'