THE NEW HEBRIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13699, 16 March 1908, Page 6

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

MISSIONARIES V. HIGH

COMMISSIONER,

DR. All DONALD'S I DIG-NATION, Tub Rev. Dr. D. McDonald, late of the Now Hebrides Mission, who returned to Australia from London, by the It.-M.S. Asturias last week, took some pains while in Great Britain, to place before public men and officials, as well as the people of Great Britain, his criticisms upon some remarks by the High Commissioner in the Pacific (Sir Ivverard iin Thurm) as to the influence of Presbyterian .missions in the New Hebrides. The High Commissioner had put into an official memorandum the opinion that missionaries " were inclined to resent, more or less, not merely the authority, but even the existence, of a Government." This caused a great deal, of indignation amongst Presbyterian missionaries, and Dr. McDonald brought the matter under the notice of tin; Imperial Government, with a request that tho fullest inquiry should be made. The High Commissioner also stated that what missionaries wanted was a. Government. "under which, as representatives, they would themselves wield a large influence under the sway of Australia." " Those gratutious defamatory allegations were not true," said Mr. McDonald. "There are not any more loyal subjects of the Empire than these missionaries, and Sir Everard im Thurm is the first and only man I have ever known to make such accusations against Presbyterian ministers. Lack of knowledge has also been displayed by the High Commissioner as to the historical reasons which led to the decline, of British interests in the New Hebrides. Those reasons wont much further back than any action by the Commonwealth Government, upon whom the High Commissioner has endeavoured to fasten the blame. As a matter of fact, the conditions have much improved since the establishment of the Common wealth."