THE NEW HEBRIDES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13326, 5 November 1906, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

AUSTRALIA'S ATTITUDE. STATEMENT BY MR. DEAKIN. Bt Tpiepraph— Press Association.— (Keceired November 4, 5.2 p.m.) LONDON, -November 3. Mr. C. Kin-lock Cooke, in an article in the Empire Review, suggests that the British case when the New Hebrides question is next considered would stand on a very different footing if Australia lowered her tariff walls against British settlers in the New Hebrides, or against the produce from British owned estates there. Australia also should do her utmost to promote British settlement in the islands. Melbourne, November 3. Mr. Deakin makes the following statement with regard to the New Hebrides Convention : — "In November, 1904 (?), we were informed for the first time that a French official was visiting England to discuss questions regarding the powers of the tribunal for the settlement of. the New Hebrides land claims. In March, 1906. the Imperial authorities posted a despatch covering a copy of a draft Convention. We. were then informed for the first time that the Government had enlarged the scope of the discussion mentioned in the first communication. We were informed that the draft Convention must be either confirmed or, rejected practically as it stood. The conference which framed it had met in London about March. The Federal Government had not been officially informed of its existence, and knew nothing of the lines upon which it was proceeding. Soon after the arrival of the despatch Mr. Seddon came to Australia, and we closely examined the draft together, and forwarded to the Colonial Office two memoranda,, practically identical in terms, pointing out numerous matters in which the Convention was unacceptable to us, and making suggestions of amendment. "On August 22 last we sent a cable asking when a reply might be expected to that despatch, and on the same date the Secretary of State for the Colonies cabled that he was afraid that he could only say that a reply would he sent at the earliest possible date. On October 13, after consultation with the Government of New Zealand, we sent a cable informing the Imperial Government that, not having been consulted during the negotiations, and our suggested amendments, except perhaps a few minor proposals, not having been accepted, and being unable at. the distance to judge the possibility of obtaining amendments, we had no option but to leave the whole responsibility with His Majesty's Government. On October 30 we received information that the draft had been signed.''

THE VISIT OF H.M.S. PEGASUS. A GREAT FUTURE BEFORE THE GROUP. "Unquestionably the one great evil that confronts us in dealing with the natives of the New Hebrides Group is that of theliquor question, which lias been the cause of all the trouble in the past," said one of the officers of H.M.s. Pegasus to a Sydney Morning Herald reporter upon the return of the warship a few clays ago from ail extended cruise in the Islands. In their natural state the natives of the New Hebrides are a. peaceful people," he continued, "but after imbibing the firewater called 'trade gin,' but the smell of which bead's a strong resemblance to kerosene, they become raving lunatics, and are not responsible for their actions. The liquor, valued at a shilling a bottle, is partaken of at the native feasts, and trouble inevitably follows. They are then tit for ' wholesale slaughter, and use their rifles and native weapons indiscriminately. When they kill members of their own or other tribes nothing is heard of the matter, and it is only when a European falls that action is taken by the warships. Every effort is being made to put a stop to or at any rate to limit the importation of gin into the New Hebrides, and the joint commission, consisting of the commanders and • officers of H.M.s. Pegasus and the French cruiser Vaucluse, used every means to solve the liquor question. The great trouble, however, is that the natives have been accustomed to being paid their wages in 'trade gin,' and the European traders, many of whom have no scruples on the liquor question, affirm that the natives will not work on the plantations for any other form of currency."

PROHIBITION SUGGESTED! The mixed commission has represented to both the English and French Governments the absolute necessity for governing the liquor traffic among the natives in a very drastic manner, " but to us there appears to be only two ways." said an officer, "the imposition of a prohibitive duty, which will prevent the traders from distributing gin for wages, or preferably by Die absolute prohibition of liquor." 'Tin* latter course perhaps would be surrounded with difficulty, as it would be a hardship to deny Europeans the right to consume spirits. The i trade gin which foimd its way into the New Hebrides in large quantities was imported by the Me&sageries Maritimes Company's steamer Pacifique, and by the island mail steamers of Burns, Philp, and Company's, line. " We- have, however, now been assured," an officer remarked, "that Colonel Burns, the head of the great Australian shipping company, has, in the interests of the natives and of the settlers, and at a. considerable loss to his firm, positively refused to allow any further consignments of liquor by any of the Australian steamers." The effect will undoubtedly be a vast improvement in the conditions under which the natives live. THE TRIBAL WARS. Inter-tribal wars, the officers of the Pegasus state, still continue in the interior without a day's cessation, and the mortality rate, particulars of which cannot of course be obtained, must be appalling. "Of course, these wars have been going on," one of the officers remarked, "before the memories of living men, and to stamp them out will be a difficult task. Both the British and French naval officers have impressed upon the natives the utter foolishness of these tribal wars, and when in their sober senses they realise their folly." But the tribes, it seems, cantopt trust one another, and if one tribe lays down its' weapons it would probably be swooped down upon unawares. Owing to this treachery no native dare sleep for two successive nights in the same spot. These tribal wars do not take place on the coast or on white men's territory, and under the present condition of things the, naval, authorities have.no jurisdiction over tribes. POTENTIALITIES OF THE ISLANDS. " The possibilities of the New Hebrides Group under a settled form of government are very great," one of the officers of the Pegasus continued, " and the new agreement arrived at between Great Britain and France must have an enormous effect." The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Everaul F. im Thurn, visited all the important islands of the New Hebrides Group by the Pegasus in July last, and made a most exhaustive inspection. 'his was the first occasion of a visit by the High Commissioner, and although the nature of his mission was not officially announced it was generally accepted by all the officers of the Pegasus that he was gathering material for a comprehensive report to the British authorities, in view of the new agreement with France. The only islands which Sir Everard im Thurn did not visit in the Pegasus were Aneityum and Santo, but all information concerning these two important districts, was already in the hands of the High Commissioner, *' (