Tonkinese For N.H.

British

New Arrangement Ineffective Through France's Collapse

THERE was an interesting develop ment in the relations between Brit ish and French, in the New Heb rides Condominium, in recent months.

French authorities made available to British planters a supply of Tonkinese labourers, from French Indo-China, for work on their plantations, on the same terms as are given the French.

This, for many long years, has been a sore subject in the New Hebrides. Local native labour is irregular and undepend able. The French planters were per mitted, by their Government, to bring in from Indo-China as many Tonkinese labourers as they wanted, on a system of strict indenture: but the British planters, seeking from the Colonial Office authorities the same privilege, were flatly refused. In consequence, French planters have flourished, while British planters have been severely penalised. Many British planters gave up the struggle altogether and left the New Hebrides; others sought and ob tained French naturalisation.

One does not know what understand ing between the French and British authorities preceded the decision to make Tonkinese labourers available to British planters; but it certainly was a gesture much appreciated by the British.

The irony of the situation is that, just after the privilege had been granted to the British planters, following 30 years of heart-burning, it seems that it will prove useless, owing to the lamentable collapse of France. At the moment of this writing, it is doubtful whether Indo- China will remain in the possession of the French Empire, and continue to pro vide a supply of Tonkinese labour.

Gesture May Be Too Late

(Contributed) NO sooner was the gesture made by the French Resident Commissioner (M.

Sautot) in Vila, to mark Anglo- French unity, than rapid events in Europe rendered its operation impractic able.

It now is extremely doubtful whether a continuation of the supply of labourers, even to French planters* will be any longer possible.

It is interesting to recollect that the Condominium was established to thwart a move of the former Kaiser to seize the New Hebrides, on account of the constant strife between French and English. His ambition was to link them up with the other German South Seas Territories.

Many are wondering whether the Fuhrer, as a result of his successes in Europe, may now seek to put into effect the am bitious schemes of the Kaiser.

Hon. Dr. C. M. Dawson, M.L.C., of Apia, who recently received leave of ab sence from the Samoan Legislative Council to proceed to England, has joined the British Merchant Navy as a surgeon.

Mr. H. E. Coombe, formerly a merpber of the staff of the Bank of New Zealand in Fiji, has enlisted in the N.Z. forces.

Mr. F. C. J. Edmunds, who went to Fiji 40 years ago as a coach driver for the Government, died in Suva on July 2 at the age of 69. Before going to Fiji he was a coach driver for the famous Australian pioneer firm of Cobb and Co.