NEW HEBRIDES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12660, 21 January 1927, Page 3

NEW HEBRIDES

BRITISH SETTLERS QUESTION OF TREATMENT ROYAL COMMISSION SET UP Tlie Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Act-ing-Prime Minister, announced yesterday that, as the result of consideration by the Imperial Conference, the British Government has decided to send a Royal Commission to the New Hebrides composed of representatives of liis Majesty’s Governments in Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, to investigate the position of the British settlers under the Condominium regime in the New Hebrides. An announcement to the above effect has accordingly been made by the Resident Commissioner of the New Hebrides at Vila. The Secretary of State for the Colp onies has nominated Sir Eyre Hutson. Governor of Fiji, in his capacity as Commissioner for the Western Pacific, to represent his Majesty’s Governmentin Great Britain. The Government of the Commonwealth lias nominated General Griffiths, Administrator of Nauru, to represent Australia. The Government of New Zealand has nominated General Sir George S. Richardson, Administrator of Samoa,/to represent this Dominion. SCOPE OF COMMISSIONERS The order of reference of the Commission as fellows :—“To report upon the position of the British settlers in New Hebrides, with special reference to any disadvantages under which they may be working in comparison with French settlers; and in particular to consider:— (1) The provision of an adequate supply of labour for British settlers; (2) any further measures to assist the British settlers in the production and marketing of their crops; and to indicate what financial assistance, if any, would be required from the Government, whether by loans oi otherwise, for carrying into effect any recommendations which the Commission may make. The Commission will visit New Hebrides for the purpose of its inquiry, and it is expected that the members w r ill arrive at Vila early m April. STRONG PROTESTS. There was recently published an outline of the history of the New Hebrides group, in which it was shown that frequent representations from Australia and New Zealand had been made us to the unsatisfactory state of affairs under the indefinite joint British and French occupation. In 1878 the Government of New Zealand claimed that the New Hebrides had formerlv been wjthin its boundaries, and asked that British sovereignty be asserted. In 1888 New Zealand joined in the request of the Australian colonies that the New Hebrides be annexed. In 1886 New Zealand, after some hesitation, joined in the protests of the Australian colonies against the proposed cession to France, but with the qualification that if the British Government considered it expedient to agree to this cession efficient guarantees should be obtained for the protection of British interests, and that France should cpde Rapa to Great Britain, and waive her objection to British annexation of Rarotonga. New Zealand joined in the protest of Australia in 1906 against a joint protectorate, but was ready, ns a last resort, to consent to partition, to which Australia was opposed. New Zealand joined in the protest of Australia against the manner in which the convention with France was arrived at. In 1912 New Zealand was ready to support an exchange of British interests in the New Hebrides for Tahiti and Rapa. The unsatisfactory position of affairs under the Condominium was discussed at the recent Imperial Conference, but no definite announcement was made public as to the result of the discussion.