NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19871, 15 February 1928, Page 11

NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS.

THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED ADDRESS BY MISSIONARY. Strong criticism of the form of govern* ment operating in the condominium territory in the New Hebrides Islands was voiced by Mr. J. W. Mansfield, of the Presbyterian Mission in the Islands, ft* an address to the Auckland Presbytery last evening. Mr. Mansfield Said he would like to see the presbytery give support toward establishing a mandate that would give a government of Justice. Referring to the Court in the Islands, Mr. Mansfield said three Judges j an English Judge, a French Judge and an "umpire." "If it is discovered that the French are losing the case," he said, j "all at once there comes an urgent tele* gram, which draws the French Judge away. So 'the case ii, shelved and it is j not gone on with. It is this one-sided justice which is bringing-discredit upon the Government." Mr. Mansfield said he wouid not wisK to see the French out of the territory, as the taxation would bo too high. There would be the same result if the area became French ,and was attached to New Caledonia. Formerly the French going to the island had been cf a low class, but now they were of a better stamp, and they were buying plantations. A great deal of trouble had been caused by the custom in the olden days of a man buying land, wholesale from the uatives fop a few trifles. No action was taken by the presbytery. Mir. Mansfield is visiting New Zealand after many years* missionary service in the New Hebrides. He went to the islands in 1891 as lay assistant at the Ambrim -Hospital, rfhich he helped to build. Mr. Mansfield recently declined an offer of the General Assembly to confer ordination upon him and, as he has expressed" a wifeh to carry on his work, hj» 1 will return to the islands shortly. J