MISSION WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22352, 25 February 1936, Page 16

MISSION WORK

LIFE IN NEW HEBRIDES PROBLEMS AND PROGRESS TRANSLATION OF BIBLE Difficulties encountered by missionaries in the New Hebrides, of controlling natives of a new generation, nominally Christians, and who know nothing of the heathen ways of thoir forefathers, were outlined in an interview by the Rev. W. V. Milne, a Presbyterian missionary, who is at present on furlough in Auckland. Under the influence _of the white trader the younger natives had acquired a keen sense of the value of money, said Mr. Milne. Some hoarded the money they earned, while others spent freely and obtained liquor. It was illegal to sell liquor to the natives, but they appeared to have little difficulty in obtaining it. The average native knew no moderation where drink was concerned. Liquor was imported in large quantities to the islands by the French. Mr. Milne, whose father was the Rev. Peter Milne, also a missionary, was born in the New Hebrides, and came to New Zealand for his education. He returned to the islands to commence missionary work 31 years ago. Mr. Milne said he was continuing the work commenced by his father, who translated the whole of the New Testament and one-third of the Old Testament into the Nguna-Tongoa language, which was spoken by the natives in the central islands of the New Hebrides. The Rev. Peter Milne reduced the language to a written ono as it was at present being taught in the mission schools.. Practically all the adult natives now read quite well and had been found to learn rapidly. The teaching of the i natives was left solely to missionaries, i The Government took no part; in fact, it did nothing for the natives, other than grant a small subsidy to the mission hospital. Mr. Milne is most interested in trans- | lation work, and he has revised the j I whole of the New Testament and Psalms. These are at present being printed by the British and Foreign Bible Society in London. He has recently completed a new and enlarged edition of a hymn book in the NgunaTongoa language. The New Hebrides did not avoid the depression, said Mr. Milne. The prices • for copra fell and the British planter in particular suffered. The French planter, however, was not affected to the same extent, as he was able to send his copra into France duty free, while the French Government also allowed him a subsidy of £2 a ton. When he was getting about £8 a ton for copra the British planter had to be content with about £4 a ton. Even the natives fared better than the British planters, for the French traders bought copra from them and paid prices hanging to £6 and £7 a ton. Prices for copra, however, had risen considerably recently, and prosperity was again returning to the islands.