JUVENILE OPERA PERFORMERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13719, 28 April 1910, Page 7

JUVENILE OPERA PERFORMERS.

AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN IN INDTA

United Press Association—By Eleotrjo Telegraph—Copyright. (Received April 2/th, 10.15 p.m.) PERTH, April 27.

[ In connection with complaints made to the Federal Government regarding tho treatment of the Australian children who are members of Pollard's Opera Company, now in India, which resulted" in Mr A. Pollard bringing an action in Madras against Mr Rouse, who intervened on behalf of the children, claiming 50,000 rupees for kidnapping the children, th© "Ceylon Times" to hand by the mail publishes a telegram from Madras, stating that the High Court had removed the children from Pollard's care, and provided guardians for them pending their return to Australia. Mr Rouso undertook to send them back.

The matter referred to iii the cablegram (which, by the way, is in no way connected with Mr Tom Pollard or his company) has created considerable 6tir in- Melbourne for some weeks past. About a fortnight ago, representations were made to the External Affairs -department by eleven parents of children who are members of the compartment by eleven parents of children who are members of tho company. Mr Shepherd, Acting-Secretary of tho Department, promised that the matter should receive immediate attention, and that a cable should be sent to the Indian Government'setting out the representations of the parents. In the agreement with Mr Pollard, a copy of which had been supplied to him, there wai no reference to any objection to the children visiting India. Mr Pollard was required to return the children to Melbourne at the end of three years. Mr Shepherd added that a cable had been received from the Government of India stating that the legal proceedings taken by 3lr Pollard against Mr Miller on a charge of illegally removing some of the children from his custody had failed. The proceedings against Mr Rouse, the other gentleman, who had interested himself in tho children, had not then finished.