needs one

. . . Melanesia needs one

As the wearisome debate over in ternal self-government continues in French territories, Paris is holding out an illusory offer of appeasement while the Melanesian Protestant Church has called for justice and social harmony.

New Minister for Overseas Terri tories, Mr Olivier Stirn, told the French National Assembly in No vember that “in the coming (northern) spring session I shall place before the Parliament projects for the modification of the statutes in New Caledonian and French Poly nesia”. Mr Stirn is scheduled to visit New Caledonia late in January.

Earlier, Caledonian Deputy Roch Pidjot had sought autonomy—ie with local ministers, an elected man at the head of what is currently the Governor’s Advisory Council, and a

government composed of Cale donians.

Sources close to Governor Eriau in Noumea expect some change in the Governor’s Council, Conseil de Gouvernement. But it appears this will only be “window dressing”, allowing the council members access to public service files in making studies of specific policy areas. Real power, however, will still remain firmly held by Paris as there is no suggestion that the governor, a pub lic servant appointed by Paris, should give up his post as chief executive.

Meanwhile, the Melanesian Pro testant Church in New Caledonia issued a statement in November con demning the lack of real equality for Melanesians and deploring recent events during which some of their church members had been gaoled.

The Eglise Evangelique Church called for a chance for Melanesians to gain a progressive education allow ing equal participation in the island’s development. The church stressed the need for justice and social har mony if the various ethnic groups are to achieve peaceful co-habitation.