No Australian Rule!

New Hebrides Planters Would Rather Have Condominium Than Commonwealth.

Letter to the Editor.

(This article is written for the “Pacific Islands Monthly” by a well-known planter in the New Hebrides, who has resided there for over 30 years).

IHAVE just received the December “Pacific Islands Monthly”. I and many of my friends look forward to every number, and often discuss the different topics touched upon.

We notice with pleasure the appoint ment of the Rt. Hon. W. M. Hughes as Minister for External Affairs. Island af fairs could well be left in his able hands, provided he were entirely independent of Canberra. But such is not the case.

We New Hebrideans follow very closely every move in New Guinea and when it was mooted that Australia should take over the British part of the Condominium I am certain that, with the exception of some missionaries and employees of com mercial firms, every planter and trader expressed strong objection to the trans fer. If it were proposed seriously, they would in all probability endeavour to go over to the French flag.

No one who has studied New Guinea affairs, would acclaim the Australian re gime there as a success. Rules and regu lations are laid down by politicians at

Canberra, men who know as much about Island affairs and the handling of na tives as a cat does of French mustard.

Men are appointed to positions regardless of experience and standing, as long as they have some political friends to push them into billets.

Such is not the fact in the Condomin ium. We enjoy privileges here which are thoroughly appreciated by everyone. Our cheap postal rates; the convenient way the Customs are arranged to meet the settlers; and, as far as the officials are concerned, they do not bother us, or lord it over us, providing a settler follows the few rules and regulations laid down for the protection and well-being of whites and blacks. The present administration will do us, fine.

Would we be under the same happy conditions under Australian rule? I doubt it!

If a plebiscite were taken, one would soon see what we Britishers would choose.

In the meanwhile I hope, we shall con tinue under the Condominium for many years to come.

Those Coronation Medals.

I notice, further, in the December issue, mention of our Aoba natives’ refusal to accept the Coronation medals, and the reason why. The reason given by you, or as reported to you, is not correct.

I called at Aoba some little time ago and had a talk with some of the elder chiefs of the island, whom I knew 30 odd years ago, and from them I gathered what appears to be the correct reason.

The Coronation Medals were not in any way compared with the identification discs of the Queensland recruiters. So far from considering their engagement on the plan tations in Queensland as one of bondage, the New Hebridian gloried in it, and well do I remember in 1906 and 1907 the dis content of the repatriated natives, who had to adjust themselves to the changed circumstances among their fellow men, and this I can assure you, were a Queensland recruiting ship to anchor at any Island to recruit for Queensland to day, it would fill up within a few hours.

No, th,e evil can be easily traced back to later years, and the blame rests solely on the Condominium Government, which has let the Aobans get out of hand.

Thirty years ago, the Aobans were to tally different. Then came missionary influence, coupled with commerce. One missionary, after leaving the mission, to strengthen his position established na tive traders down the coast. These on the surface acted independently, but under the instructions of their boss. However.

little by little, these natives withdrew from their leader; made fairly large plan tations; and in short became independ ent businessmen, and they are served by the different steamers plying in the Group to this very day.

With other words, the success of these men has fostered a belief among the na tives, that they can do without the white man—or Aoba for the Aobans.

When, therefore, the Government be gan issuing the medals, they considered the medals as a badge of bondage. Had the Government Agent promptly arrested th,e ring-leaders and dealt with them, as they deserved, the matter would have died a natural death; but, instead of do ing this, for years the two Governments have pursued a milk-sop policy towards these people, and permitted them to con sider themselves above the whites, hence for the future it will take more than one policeman and a Government Agent to cope with these gentry.

I will admit that a Government Agent’s job at Aoba is made very difficult by the attitude of the Protestant Missionaries.

“You must be kind to them (the natives), and not hurt them by being severe. After all they are only children at heart, etc., etc”. These are the missionary senti ments and rules.

When did a native ever respect any thing but brute force?

A year ago a new missionary (Church of Christ) was appointed to Aoba. A sec tion of his district didn’t want him as their spiritual leader and they formed an independent board of mission of natives, and appointed an individual of no denom ination as their teacher, and completely severed themselves from their original church.

Another instance, which also goes to prove my claim of these people’s antagon istic feelings towards the Government: A village ordered several 600-gal. tanks.

The tanks were promptly made and sent on to the village. Unfortunately, one of the corrugated iron sheets had a Queen’s head on it, as a trade mark. The na tives promptly refused to take delivery of same, and the new tanks were still lying on the grass when I was there.

My personal opinion is that too much notice is taken of these so-called “or dained” priests and deacons; their limited mental capacity cannot take the responsi bility whjch the church places upon them, and they get into mischief among the villagers. Clip their wings, and a good deal of trouble will be obviated at Aoba.

I know that by uttering these senti ments publicly, I am stepping on the feet of some of the missionaries: but surely the peace of the island is of more worth to the community than the bray ing of a few of these blind spouters and leaders of rebellion.

I am. etc.,

“Onlooker”.

New Hebrides, Feb. 9, 1938.

Mr. Magnus Shaw Walker, of the Em peror Gold Mining Co., Tavua, Fiji, mar ried Miss Emma Molloy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Molloy, of Suva, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Suva, in Feb ruary.

Miss Elsie Smith, Matron of the Methodist Mission’s Dudley Orphanage for Indian children in Fiji, arrived in Sydney early in March from India, where she spent her furlough studying at a language school.

Mr. A. S. Gaye, British Government representative on the British Phosphate Commission, which controls the Nauru and Ocean Island workings, arrived in Melbourne from London by the “Orcades” in early March to attend the Commission’s annual meeting.