NO GOVERNMENT
TRISTAN DA CUNHA
The Key. A. G. Partridge, the missionary of tho Society for the Propagation of the GoapeJ, who spent three years as padre on Tristan da Cunha, returned recently to London from the island, after a second short term spent there at tho request of the Colonial Office, and left the islanders with a new form of Government. o ,' Permission had been granted for a Brazilian meteorological expedition to spend eighteen months on the island, and it was i'elt that someone with authority should be with the 183 inhabitants, all simple, uneducated, coloured folk, during that time. Mr. Partridge volunteered to return, though he had just come homo on furlough, and he sailed last April. The Brazilian expedition was subsequently abandoned, however, and just, before Christmas a Japanese ship left her route to call at Tristan da Cunha and take Mr. Partridge off.
Hitherto the islanders, although British subjects!, have •recognised no local headship or authority other than the unofficial authority of the padre, and the "Statesman's Year Book," for example, has annually concluded its article on Tristan da Cunha with the words, "There is no form of Government." On this occasion, however, Mr. Partridge, before leaving, appointed a chief from among the islanders, and three officers to work under him. The chief is chairman of the island council, and tho islanders' spokesman on board ships which call. He also has authority to perform marriages in the absence of a padre. The chief's mother has been appointed head woman and chairman of tho women's council, which, while it has no jurisdiction over the general affairs of the' island, is responsible in matters especially affecting the women and children. •
By special arrangement Router's world serrlce. In addition to other special sources of information, Is used In the compilation of the overseas Intelligence published In this issue, nnd all rights therein In Australia and New Zealand are reserved,
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 11
Word Count
320NO GOVERNMENT Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 81, 6 April 1933, Page 11
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