AUSTRALIAN BLACKS

Grey River Argus, 19 June 1933, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN BLACKS

IS THERE SLAVERY ? A London Allegation (Aus. do N.Z. Cable Assu.; (Heceivcd June 18 at 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. The British Commonwealth League Conference fully, discussed the position of the Australian aborigines in a two days’ debate. It passed a resolution “appealing for Australian womens societies to combine in directing tin l attention of the Governments to conditions akin to slavery tinder which de-tribalised aborigines and half-castes are living, including infant betrothal; also to natives lending their wives in exclm.nge for material gain, and also marriage by a polygamous husband to girls who .sometimes are Christians. The Federal Government was urged to provide a special department to iiea-1 with aboriginal offences. Rev. John Jones, ex-chairman of the Australian Board of Missions, averred the truth of Australian messages to the London “Daily Herald,’’ alleging the kidnapping of mt.tive women by Japanese. This was. he said, a longstanding custom, and it was increasing owing to the Japanese influence in the areas a Hocted. SLAVERY TALK ABSURD. AUSTRALIAN OFFICIAL DENIAL. CANBERRA, Juno IS. Australian ofitcials describe the London allegations of slavery conditions among the aborigines as being absurd. The Government’s policy is to preserve the aborigines in every way possible, and tho Chief Protector of the Aborigines is clothed with wide powers to supervise the moral and material welfare of tho full bloods a.nd the half-castes. Tho author, Mr Ton Idrioss, spirited- , ly denies the allegations at London. He says that native men are legitimately employed in many capacities, but never as slaves. There is no illegal recruiting.