CONTROL IN ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19389, 26 July 1926, Page 12

CONTROL IN ISLANDS.

NEW HEBRIDES POSITION.

BRITISH SETTLERS NEEDED.

EXTENSION OF PLANTING. "I am pleased to say the administration of the Solomon Islands is very satisfactory, from the point of view both of white settlers and natives," said Dr. F. M. Molyneux, Assistant Bishop Melanesia, who returned to Auckland on, furlough by the Southern Cross on Saturc'£l *' Anglo-French condominium in the New Hebrides may not be quite so successful, owing doubtless tfr conflicting interests, but very few complaints can be levelled against the Government." '

What- seemed to him a difficulty in the administration was the obtaining of men suitable for the various posts. The climate of the, islands was exceedingly enervating, and as many of them wero far lemoved from civilisation, it was naturally hard to get the best men there. However, a steady improvement was being shown, and with an increase in the population and trading facilities of the islands there would doubtless be a betterment in administrative conditions.

There was eo doubt the system of administration in the Solomons was far superior to that in the New Hebrides. "I have not made a study A of the political conditions," said Bishop Molyneux, "but it seems to me that English and French traders are always trying to undercut one another's prices. With the falling rate of the franc the Frenchmen seem to be tiie most successful so far. I have noticed that a good deal of French capital seems to be coming into the New Hebrides, and also that there are about three to four Frenchmen for every Englishman." Opportunities for Settlers. The bishop said there were undoubted opportunities for {settlement in the islands. Planting was, of course, the only thing that Englishmen could take up with any hope for success, and then they would have to be prepared to /ace some years of hard work before they got any return on their invested capital. Copra was the staple industry of the islands, but it appeared to him that other commodities could also be successfully grown. This would increase the activities of the planters, bring them profits in a shorter space of time and generally add to the prosperity and enlightenment of the islands.

Sugar, cotton, coffee and various other tropical products could, he thought, be successfully grown for export. The islands produced tropical fruit in plenty and of an astonishing quality, but at present there seemed little hope of marketing it. The trip to Sydney or Auckland . was ■ long, and until there was an improvement in the facilities not much shipping could be done. However, there was sufficient inducement for enterprising men to settle in the Melanesian group. In particular, settlers were needed in the New Hebrides. These islands were very fertile, and if the French found sufficient inducement to settle there, surely Britishers should be able to follow. It appeared to him important that British interests should not be allowed to lag behind in this group, which in the future would prove important both commercially and strategically. The Recruiting of Labour.

A* fault in the present system of administration was the recruiting of native labour. In order to obtain labourers for Government works, recruiting vessels went round the islands, both in the Solomons and New Hebrides, and anchoring off-shore, fired a gun as a signal that they would recruit labour. The wages there were £l2 a year, and although this did not sound much to New .Zealanders, it was really quits substantial to a native, and in addition there was provision of a house and an. allowance of tobacco and clothing. In this respect no fault could be found with the existing but half a year's wages had to be offered to a recruit immediately he joined the recruiting ship. Naturally, the natives could not resist the temptation of owning the prodigious sum of £6 in one heap, and many of • them left their homes to recruit as labourers. The result was that the population of some of the most beautiful and fertile islands was being sadly depleted, * However, the new resident commissioner in the Solomon Islands was averse to the existing practice, and it was thought that steps might be taken in the near fuure to improve the conditions of labour.