Village"

"Four Years in One Village"

Plight of New Hebrides Officials

WITH increased cost of living, and in creased taxation, the British officers of the New Hebrides Condominium Service are still being paid only 124 francs to the £ sterling, while the exchange rate is 176. Their compatriots in the Brit ish New Hebrides Colonial Service are paid, fully, in sterling.

Now that freights have gone up and there is the possibility of further increase in cost of foodstuffs from Australia, plus the possibility of a further slide of the franc, due to the war, they fear that they are going to be in for a very thin time.

In June of this year they laid their case before the High Commissioner, Sir

Harry Luke, when he visited Vila. They then were promised that something would be done about it. So far nothing has happened, and they are feeling more than a little unhappy.

At the best of times, the salaries and general conditions of Condominium offi cials have been very much below those of the officers of the British Colonial Ser vice. Those on the lower salaries have invariably been forced to stick it for four years, or longer, without leave, on ac count of their financial circumstances.

Four years on one little island, with no escape, is something of an ordeal. Also, as the community is such a small one, they have to mix socially with their bet ter-paid compatriots in the Colonial Ser vice. They feel, too, that there is a tendency on the part of the Colonial Office to lump them with the French, while they do not enjoy the privileges of French citizenship.

There never have been any British schools in the New Hebrides. It probably is the only place in the British Empire where people in like condition have no educational facilities provided. This lat ter is a matter that has fallen very heav ily on Condominium servants who have children, as they have to send them to Australia to school.

Added to this, the Condominium ser vant has no appeal anywhere. He has none of the democratic institutions for which we are fighting to come to his aid.

The whole period of his service, except ing when on leave, and his life, both public and private, is under the control of his Resident Commissioner, and liable to censure from that gentleman.