N. Hebrides Residents And

Their Government

THE petition by Franco-British colon ists in the New Hebrides, asking for a share in the government of the colony by the creation of an elected assembly with advisory powers and a voice in the colony’s budget, has been presented to the French and British Resident Commissioners.

It points out that the request is in no way revolutionary in intent but tnat an enlargement of the edifice which has sheltered two generations of colonists is in conformity with the requirements of a modern community. The petition there fore draws attention to the deficiency in the Condominium regime, resulting from the protocol of 1905 which was scarcely modified by the agreement of 1914 and which keeps colonisation completely aloof from the administration of the archipe lago. This deficiency, adds the petition, has unfortunate repercussions on the economic life and on the medical organi sation of the islands whose colonists are completely deprived of social and sani tary facilities.

Also the arbitrary regime, especially in financial matters, is contrary to French and British conceptions of government.

The petitioners add that they rely on the spirit of fair play of their respective governments for the realisation of their legitimate aspirations.

The Receiving Station Camp outside Noumea, which was built by the US Forces, is proving of such use for the town’s overflow population that all the 170 huts are now fully occupied. The camp’s civilian population is 536; there is a school for 69 of the 93 children who live there.

Fiji Rice Production

OVER 16,000 acres of rice were planted by Fiji cane growers in 1946-47, according to figures issued recently by the CSR Co., in the Colony. This is an increase of 37 per cent, on the area planted in the previous year.

In addition, 4,900 acres of other food crops have been planted by these farmers.

Death of Mrs. M. Raddock

THE death occurred in Suva on June 4, of Mrs. M. Raddock. She was a daughter of Mr. Dan Scott, who for many years was a settler on the Rewa River; and a sister of Captain Harry Scott of the “Adi Beti.”

Mrs. Raddock had many friends in the Colony and during the war was active in patriotic work. She is survived bjt a daughter, Mrs. F. W. Hay of Vatukoula, and five sons—Henry, Gus, Edward, Pat and Charlie who are all well known in Fiji sporting circles.

Sound Spiritual Life of

BSI Natives

IN a recent review of Methodist Mission enterprise in BSI, the Rev. J. F.

Goldie, said that the spiritual life of native people is more vigorous because of the terrible experiences of the years of war.

Mr. Goldie, veteran leader of the Methodist Mission in BSI has his head quarters at Roviana, New Georgia, where Allied forces battled with the Japs for possession of Munda airfield during July, 1943, in some of the bitterest fighting of the South Pacific War. The whole of the mission district was occupied by the Japs and most of the mission natives took to the hills while fighting was going on round the coastline.