THE NEW HEBRIDES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25386, 18 November 1943, Page 4

THE NEW HEBRIDES

MISSIONARY’S EXPERIENCES NATIVES AND THE WAR “It is easy to over-emphasise the disastrous effects of war on the native population,” said the Rev. J. Graham Miller, LL.B., in an interview yesterday. Mr and Mrs Miller have been engaged in mission work for the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in the district of Ton.goa, in the New Hebrides since March, 1941, and with their infant son they are at present spending three months’ furlough in the Dominion. Mr Miller said that the war had not revolutionised the life of the native to the extert that might have been expected. The district in which Mr Miller is stationed consists of four or five small islands which were named the Shepherd Islands by Captain Cook. Only three of them are now inhabited, and their population is 1800. The total population of the New Hebrides group is 45.000, which, it is estimated, is- only one-tenth of what it was 100 years ago. The New Zealand Presbyterian Church is working throughout the whole group, except the islands of Pentecost, Maewo. and Aoba, in which the Melanesian Mission is active, and which have a population of about 10,000. The population of the New Hebrides is predominantly Melanesian. “Barefoot Army”

“ The New Hebrides people have reacted very favourably to war-time demands,” Mr Miller said. “A number of them iiave given their lives in defence work. In addition, a very large proportion of the male population has been actively engaged in assisting the military operations in the islands.”

When the Japanese entered the war, Mr Miller said, the Condominium Government formed the New Hebrides Defence Force, which was sometimes facetiously referrd to as the “ Barefoot Army.” It consisted mainly of natives from Malekula, and the officers were half-castes and French and British soldiers. After doing garrison duty in various parts, the force was converted into a labour battalion. Apart from this force, the only other fulltime military job was carried out by the native constabulary, which comprised 70 or 80 British and a similar number of French native police “ boys.”

Referring to the economic effects of the war, Mr Miller said that the copra price had hardened, and the natives could market all they produced. The planters were complaining that they could not get enough labour, In spite of the fact that wages had risen from Is a day and rations to 2s a day and rations, or £2 5s a month. The native had previously been in a poor position economically, and the recent improvement in labour conditions put him on a level with native labour in Fiji and other more advanced areas.

Dealing with the adverse effects of the war, Mr Miller said that it had been difficult to find a market for cotton, and prices were low. In some areas community 'life had been disrupted by the material inducements offered by military camps. “ The native soon reaches saturation point,” Mr Miller said, “and is only too glad to get back to his yams and his canegrass hut. American Co-operation

“ The bombing of Santo and the presence of enemy submarines in island waters are a reminder that the Pacific theatre of war is still not so far from New Zealand,” Mr Miller added. “ The southern islands of the New Hebrides group are just 1000 miles from the North Cape.” The American troops had been most helpful in their relations with the British and French residents, both civil and military, Mr Miller continued. They were most anxious to secure the co-operation of the natives.

“The position regarding missionary work in the islands is full of hope and promise, provided that Christians are alive to the opportunities,” Mr Miller concluded. “It seems obvious that steps must be taken to delegate more and more authority to the native church and to foster in it a spirit of selfpropagation and financial independence. The early missionaries, with wonderful foresight, encouraged this attitude on the part of the native Christians, but it is natural to human nature, and particularly to the average white man, to assume control in the presence of natives. Such action invariably has disastrous results for the church and the community.”