THE NEW HEBRIDES

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 26

THE NEW HEBRIDES

| PARIS, April 6. I During a discussion on the Colonial t Estimates in the Chamber of Deputies M. j Auganeur (former Governor-general of ' Madagascar) complained that the PresbyI terian missionaries in the Sew Hebrides J combated French influence, and did not hesitate to arrogate administrative powers. They established their own tribunals and prisons on some of the islands, j M. Messimy (Minister for the Colonies) concurred in the above remarks, and characterised the position as intolerable. j M. Auganeur admitted during the dis. ' cussion in the Chamber of Deputies that j the missionaries had won the sympathies I of the natives by their social work, and added that additional facilities should be given to the colonists to obtain labour. , The French, who outnumbered the , British, showed batter agricultural rej suits, but the British had the better administration.' ADELAIDE, April 8. In reference to the Paris cable on the debate in the French Chamber on missions the secretary of the Presbyterian Church, an old missionary in the Hebrides group, denied the statement that missionaries had arrogated to themselves the administrative control of some of the islands. Prior to the establishment of the Condominium the ■missionaries had advised the chiefs on some islands to establish local government, but as soon as the Condominium came into being all local government ceased. Under the old regime it was necessary fo have a penal system and prisons, but in most cases the punishment took the form of compulsory roadmaking.