French Tax on Colonial Vessels.

Evening Star, Issue 7237, 13 June 1887, Page 4

French Tax on Colonial Vessels.

A recent incident that took place at Noumea, the capital of the French Colony of New Caledonia, shows the desperate straits to which our Gallic neighbors are driven in their efforts to be successful colonists in the Pacific islands. The New Zealand schooner Aurora, the principal owner of which is an Englishman named Bell, was engaged in a coastal trade in New Caledonia, the owner travelling in her as master. On the arrival of the vessel at Noumea some weeks ago a Frenchman made his appearance in the office, and ordered the owners of the schooner to put him on board as captain, in obedience to the law, he being the only French skipper then having no employment. The authorities backed up this insolent demand, which was not complied with, but the English flag was again hoisted, and the vessel made several voyages to the Loyalty Islands under her English owner, paying LlO per voyage special tax. On again arriving at Noumea, however, the French Governor interfered, and by his orders the vessel was detained in harbor. Her owner appealed to the British Consul for protection; but when the Consul saw the Colonial Secretary on the matter, all the satisfaction he obtained was the information that such was the law, and they intended to put it in force. There is plainly no redress for this grievance, as the French have of course a perfect right to impose whatever restrictions they please upon foreigners trading in their waters ; but the French would find it very inconvenient if the Australasian colonies imposed similar restrictions upon French vessels trading to colonial ports. If the large passenger steamers of the Messageries Maritimes Company were prohibited from doing a freight or passenger trade with Australia save on the condition of employing an English captain, and their vessels rendered liable to seizure if they refused to comply with the condition, the result might be to teach our Gallic neighbors the blessings of reciprocity.— ‘ Auckland Star.’