New Hebrides Condominium Faults

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 2

New Hebrides Condominium Faults

SETTLERS' COMPLAINTS Severe criticism of the condition of the New Hebrides under the joint rule of Britain and France is expressed by the Rev. T. E. Riddle, of Takapuna, who recently revisited the group after an absence of 27 years. Mr. Riddle said it was perhaps too much to expect that the dual control would have accomplished much In **\e way of good government. 4 ‘Known officially as the Condominium and locally as the ‘Pandemonium,’, this system of control has had 30 years; to show what it could do,” said Mr. Riddle, ‘‘but a Governent that works through British Courts for British residents, French Courts for the French, a joint Court with several neutral nationals as its Judges, public prosecutors and advocates, besides resident commissioners of both nations, has too many spring traps in the way of national jealousies and international red tape to allow any considerable degree of executive drive or of judicial efficiency. “Only One Opinion” “British traders, planters and missionaries havo only one opinion about the Condominium, and especially about the British end of it, and that is that it has let them down badly. Planters complain that nothing has ever been done to improve planting. Even now

there are no grafted fruit trees in the islands, and no improved cotton, sugarcane or rice has been introduced. “Hurricanes have been frequent of late years, and one British settler in particular has had heavy losses. All he received from the British authorities was a letter of sympathy, whereas his French neighbour was given financial aid by his Government. “Copra is the main trade of the islands and adverse tariffs and vested interests in England so control the price that the trading steamers in the group can offer £9 a ton to the French for copra, £8 to the natives and only £7 to the British. No Money far Education “So deadly has this discrimination against the British become that British trading firms have one by one become French or have floated subsidiary trading companies registered in France. British traders and planters aro being forced out, and it is hard to And any constructive efforts of the British officials to prevent other British interests from going tho same way. “It is startling to find that in the 30 years that the Condominium has been established the British part of it has not spent one penny for education cither of British children or of tho natives,” continued Mr. Riddle. “The various missionary societies supply all tho education there is in the group. Jn welfare work tho British Condominium is equally neglectful.”

Mr. Riddle, although criticising tho 1 administration of tho group unde dis trict agents, said local officials would probably act energetically if left to themselves, but tho Colonial Office appeared to havo forgotten that it had obligations to tho settlers and natives of New Hebrides.