THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 115, 16 May 1924, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

DUAL CONTROL MENACE. WICKED CONDITIONS ALIXGED. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. (By Cable .Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) •MELBOURNE, this day. In the House of Representatives a petition was presented bearing 40,000 signatures requesting the House to consider at an early date the intolerable state of affairs in the New Hebrides under the condominium, stating that the dual control had broken down lamentably, resulting in inadequate protection of the natives, many of whom are held in a condition of practical slavery. The petition ndds that the women are being degraded and outraged, and used as decoys to secure labour for the plantations. It concludes that the only solution is single control by the British. The petition requests that the House bring the matter before the Imperial Government with a view that an amicable and honourable arrangement may be made with France, by which the New Hebrides will pass under sole British control. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.) PRESBYTERIAN COMPLAINT. (Received 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The Sydney Presbyterian General Assembly adopted a deliverance that the Assembly has learned with regret of the prevalence of abuses prejudicial to tile natives under the joint British and French control in the New Hebrides, and has instructed its Foreign Missions Committee to continue its efforts to secure that by some amicable arrangement witr France the islands pass under sole British control. —A. and N.Z.