Leaders

Need For Wise

French Oceania and Rev. Charles Vernier

From Our Tahiti Correspondent rE presiding director of Protestant Mission in French Oceania is en trusted with many duties, in addition to those connected with the administra tion of his sacred office. He becomes the intimate counsellor and friend, in all matters that concern the lives of his parishoners in every part of the Colony.

A man of the right temperament, who has been long in this office, becomes, therefore, the authority most informed as to the needs and problems of our Polynesian people.

Perhaps, no man, to-day, is more in timately informed on these needs and problems than is the Reverend Charles Vernier, who recently departed to France, after more than 30 years of devoted and distinguished service in Oceania.

Our people, conscious that during this critical period the Colony should be re presented in France by one who, un tainted by politics, is endowed with wis dom and sympathetic understanding, have earnestly requested Monsieur Vernier to undertake the duties of dele gate for French Oceania, near the Gov ernment at Paris. A cablegram an nounces that Monsieur Vernier has consented to assume this responsible office.

We old residents of foreign citizenship (who keep ourselves rigidly apart from the politics of the Colony—yet, neverthe less, are deeply interested in the welfare of the Polynesian people) do venture to hope that the people of French Oceania will have the wisdom to petition that the present head of the Colony be re tained in his position during the period of reconstruction.

In a world gone mad, Colonel Orselli has performed the miracle of maintain ing, in Oceania, an oasis of tranquil well-being. His Excellency has been here long enough to comprehend the actual needs of the Colony, and of its , Polynesian inhabitants.