NEW HEBRIDES.

Grey River Argus, 24 November 1910, Page 6

NEW HEBRIDES.

GRAVE CHARGES AGAINST

FRENCH RECRUITERS

(By F'-ectric Telegraph— Copyright.)

SYDNEY, Nov. 23,

Doctor Nicholson, medical missionary in charge of 'the Victorian Presbycerian Church on the Island of Tanna, who is visiting Sydney, declares that the Anglo-French Condominium in the New Heribdes is a fail

j ure. The terms of the. Convention are enforced on British- -subjects, bir: so far those on the French have nobeen enforced especially as regards the sa^e of grog and firearms and the recruitment of women.

The Doctor made a series of grave charges against French recruiters and traders, declaring 'that latterly the French recruiters from New Caledonia had become extremely aggressive. They almost seemed desirous of provoking <che natives to a breach of the peace. .They charged the natives and df 'they failed to catch them shot their pigs. This to the Tannese was one of 'the most deadly insults. They also, allowed native crews from other islands to land armed with rifles aud xoam about. He mentioned a number of cases of cruelty in connection with recruitment.

(Reed.. 9.35 p.m.)

SYDNEY, Nov. 23

-Doctor Nicholson declares that he was in the New Hebrides for four years before the Condominium.

He says that illegal recruiting and outrages by French recruiters are worse now -chan ever previously.

. Only a very small percentage of Natives recruited to New Caledonia are returned and of these many cases are returned because they are suffering from leprosy and other incurable diseases .