THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

. DEBATE IN TAB COMMONS, v THE NATIVES. BRITISH SETTLERS' GRIEVANCES NOT DWELT ON. RY IELEGItArit —Pit EES ASSOCIATION—COrTttMIII (Hoc, May 20, 9.25 p.m.) London, May 29. Speaking in the House of Commons in tho dobato on the Colonial vote, tho UnderSecretary for tho Colonies (Col. J. E. 13. Soely) explained that the difficulty in bringing tho New Hobrides Anglo-French Convention into operation arose from tho extraordinary state of things existing in the Islands. The country had no Sovereign, and belonged to nobody, and tho Government was hampered at overy step because thero was no precedent. However, order was now being evolved out of chaos, and something would be done to malce the place happier for tho unfortunato natives, who had been much harried in the past. Britain had no .control over the recruitment by Franco of natives for service in New Caledonia. "We must rely," said tho Ministor, "on Franco's justice and humanity;" Sir F. G. Banbury, Conservative member for London City, declared that tho British Government could not shirk its obligations because somo natives wore outside British jurisdiction. The Government shared tho responsibility for treatment ■of tho natives, whoever they were. Mr. H. J. Tennant, Liberal member for Berwickshire, said that a Sydney telegram showed that Fronch traders were landing large quantities of intoxicants in the Now Hobrides. Mr. T. Hart Davies, Liberal member for Hackney North, held that the Colonial Office had done much to improve tho old system in the Now Hebrides. ' Tho vote was agreed to.