LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1927, Page 2

LATE MESSAGES

SYDNEY, May 14.

The report of the Foreign Missions Committee was presented to the Presbyterian’ General Assembly. It states: “The evil effects of the dual contiol in the New Hebrides are on the increase. There is a danger that Britain may lose her hold on these pearls of the South Seas. If France obtains full control over all, or a portion of the Islands, there will arise a. danger of n repetition of what happened in the Loyalty Islands, namely, that the Protestant missionary societies, after all the long years of service to their credit, being forced to withdraw.”

Dr Gunn said: “We long tried to get the New Hebrides under British control, but we have failed. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining labour inside, labour has to be introduced from outside. The French have brought in hundreds and thousands of Tonganese, and they say to the British traders : “If you. will" become French subjects we will give you as much labour as you require.” Owing to this difficulty British traders have told the British Commission' that unless they get labour from the outside world they will become French subjects.”