The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1928. THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 June 1928, Page 6

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1928. THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'olook in Hawera, Manair.. Normanfay, Ofcaiawu, Eltham, Mangutoki. Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville Patea. Waverlev. Mo„oia. Whakamara. Ohangai, Meremere. Prasei Road. and Ararata.

Paris newspapers (have recently given unusual attention .to the New Hebrides and to tihe dual form of government bv Great Britain and Prance. There can be no doubt that the unique and extraordinary method of government in the ‘group, by a condominium agreed to in 188.7 by the two countries concerned, and renewed by ‘conventions at various times 'since, has proved unsatisfactory to both Pren'ch and British settlers in the islands. The convention of 1906, in which it was reaffirmed that the New Hebrides should form >a region 'of joint influence in which British and French subjects should have equal rights in all respects, and each Power should retain jurisdiction over its own subjects or citizens, was iat the time bitterly criticised in Australia. The Commonwealth Government 'expressed it's dissatisfaction because it was neither represented at the preliminary conference nor fully 'consulted during 'the negotiations, and for the further reason that, in its opinion, many of the provisions which nominally established equality between British and French would, in practice, operate to the advantage of the French. Experience has undoubtedly proved that this view whs correct, and the trials of the [British settlers in the group, most of whom are Australians, has at different times provoked bitter protests in the (Commonwealth and demands for readjustment. The matter was discussed at one of the Imperial Conferences, but nothing material resulted. Now, after a long period of quiescence, the subject has suddenly assumed a position of first importance in the French Press, and

it 'Cannot fail to be of interest to Australia and New Zealand in view of the suggestions made for certain Franco-ißritish territorial exchanges. One influential Paris newspaper does not hesitate to press the idea of ending the condominium, obviously leaving ‘France in charge of the group, while another speaks frankly of exchanges and .suggests that France, if given 'complete possession of the ‘New Hebrides, might yield some of her colonies in India, or part of French Equatorial Africa that could be absorbed into the British Sudan, sphere. According to the French statement of the case, the British share in the condominium is disproportionate to her land holdings 'and to her population, for it is pointed out that Of the disposable land 1,500,000 acres belong to French tiers and 300,000 to British, while (the ipopulation is 577 French and ‘226 British. But if 'Great Britain should be at all disposed to relinquish her rights in the New Hebrides in exchange for territory elsewhere, perhaps ef some strategic or commercial importance, the matter will not toe las simple as it was when she agreed with France to make the group a region of joint control. To-day the situation is complicated toy the fact that the islands in the 'Pacific in which Britain has interests could not toe disposed of without consulting Australia ■and New Zealand, and the nearness of the New Hebrides to both wbuld make the two 'countries, and especially Australia, very reluctant to give their consent and approval. The prominence given by the most important Paris papers to the idea of territorial exchange, designed to effect complete French control of the group, indicates that the question is likley to demand the closest attention of the Dominion and of the 'Commonwealth in the perhaps nut-distant future.