THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15457, 8 November 1910, Page 7

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

PRESBYTERIAN MISSION COMPLAINTS. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FRENCH RESIDENTS. DEPUTATION TO SIR JOSEPH WARD. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 7. A deputation representing the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church waited on the Prime Minister to-day to put before him certain matters in connection with the Presbyterian mission in the New Hebrides. There were present Messrs Massey, M.P., J. Allen, M.P., T. K. Sidey, M.P., and G. M. Thomson, M.P., the Rev Dr Gibb, the Rev W. M’Caw and Mr J. G. W. Aitken.

The deputation was introduced by Mr J. Alien, who said he was afraid that the case was one that neither the Prime Minister nor the Commonwealth of Australia could satisfactorily deal with, and ho thought it might be a case for Sir Joseph Ward to bring up at the Imperial Conference. Tho Rev Dr Gibb said they thought the question concerned the cause of civilisation and humanity in the New Hebrides. A convention had been drawn up some years ago regarding recruiting natives and tho sale of intoxicating liquor. The deputation was there to declare that the convention in. that respect was being constantly violated, chiefly by French residents. Tho recruiting of women and girls was particularly complained of. As to the sale of liquor, the convention was almost utterly disregarded, and in this respect ho read a letter trom Dr Bowie, a missionary, who said that charges against French residents had either not been, inquired into, or, if inquiries were made, inadequate penalties or no penalties at all had been inflicted. In one case, he wrote, a Frenchman sold so much liquor that three fights were going on on the beach at one time, among drunken natives, while in another case two murders due to drink were committed. In another case a French citizen fired on natives going to church, and though the case was reported to tho French authorities, no notice was taken of it. The circumstances seemed so remarkable that they appeared to call for' action of some sort. As to the criticism of the missionaires by the French, to accuse the missionaries of being opponents of civilisation and to suggest the starting of a “ holy war,” that, said Dr Gibb, was absurd. The missionaries, above all people, were law-abiding citizens, and the Synod in its report showed that there was no basis for the allegations made against the missionaries. It was quite evident that the charges were simply and solely due to the protest the missionaries had made against the evils for which the French were responsible. He (Dr Gibb) urged that tho time ,'or action had arrived in the interests of humanity and civilisation, and that the New Zealand Government should do what it could to secure liberty for her missionaries. The Rev W. M’Caw spoke on tho same lines, remarking that the work of fifty years was in danger of being made void.

Sir Joseph Ward said the matter was of very great importance, and he also recognised that it was a very difficult' one. He thought, if the deputation would set out in writing and forward to him u memorandum on the subject, he would send it on to the British Government. He thought the British Government ought to be fully apprised officially from this end beforehand as to the representations of the deputation, so that it might consider in which form the matter should be dealt with at the Imperial Conference. He recognised that it would be a matter of considerable delicacy, because the understanding between tho two countries was of such a friendly nature. In his opinion, therefore, it would bo necessary that the British Government should have every opportunity of bringing tho matter before tho French Government before the Imperial Conference commenced, so as to enable the problem tc bo dealt with on practical lines. Dr Gibb: Tho General is sitting at Auckland this week. I will get them to send it along. Sir Joseph Ward: If you do that I will send it to the British authorities by the next mail.