N. Hebrides

Splinters

Flying In

New Hebrideans in April could see that their country is now split into at least six conflicting ineffective groups since the French-style electoral system was in troduced last November. The country’s first Representative Assembly, elected five months previously, still had not met in early April.

In the meantime the electoral system has effectively divided the population into disintegrating, rather than unifying groups

four political parties of differing

proportions holding 29 seats, nine seats reserved for “economic interests” and four more still being debated, to be held by certain chiefs.

As a solution to the stalemate, the French High Commissioner in the Pacific, Governor Eriau, of New Caledonia, suggested that two customary chiefs in stead of one should be elected from each 3f the four administrative districts. This suggestion has been refused by the Rev Walter Lini, leader of the National Party,

vhich won an overwhelming majority in

he November election.

Attending a church meeting in London n March, Walter Lini repeated his call for

ndependence by 1977.

Also in March, the UCNH Party sent hree members, Remy Delaveuve, Gerard -aymang and Guy Prevot, to see officials n Paris. Jimmy Stevens, leader of the

Jagriamel Party, had already called for

Britain’s withdrawal by April 1, 1976, if he was not prepared to match French in estment in the territory.

A fourth and smaller party, Tab ('emasana, claims the territory does not ave the elite to press for independence, or their part the “economic interests” roup has urged a rapid calling-together f the assembly to avoid possible distur

ances leading to anarchy.

There was a street clash in Santo late in larch between National Party supporters nd those of Tabwemasana. About a ozen people finished up in hospital and thers went home nursing bruises.

Santo was tense on April 1 when mmy Stevens and his Nagriamel mem ;rs arrived to give the British the final immand to get out. On second thoughts, Dwever, he extended the date to a day in ugust.

The prolonged teasing of the New ebrideans over whether or not they will

:t long-promised airport improvements

ems hopefully to be coming to an end.

The whole exercise seems to depend on ,w long the French authorities feel the ebrideans need to be kept waiting to im

press them with their need to keep tied up with France and New Caledonia t or their future progress. The demonstrations by Jimmy Stevens in Santo after Christmas have obligingly helped the cause with the message: “British out; in with the French and their investments”.

A new wind seems to be sweeping through French interests in the Pacific, blowing along with UTA airlines all the way from Paris where the message is loud and clear: “Co-operate with Anglo-Saxon neighbours in the Pacific”.

So latest reports from France indicate that more than SAS million worth of French funds are now available for sealing Santo’s Pekoa airstrip, which could be completed by the end of 1976. The im provements are being urged by the tourist industry and beef producers anxious to facilitate meat *exports overseas.

Another result of the new French at titude in the Pacific has been the in creasing effort by UTA to co-operate with Air Nauru and Qantas in bringing more tourists into New Caledonia and the New Hebrides.

Whereas the French in recent years had depicted Australia as an imperialist power trying to take over French interests in New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, now that Paris is confident of controlling the self-government movement in New Caledonia at least, the Australian “enemy” image can be abandoned.

Anxious to make friends and prevent a repeat of any such as anti- French nuclear boycotts, and keen to sell arms and technology in the Pacific, France is adopting an “open arms” policy towards Australia and neighbouring Anglo-Saxons.

A census of the population in New Caledonia was scheduled in April - May, in all communes (municipalities) by the mayors, under the control of the French national institute of statistics (INSEE).