WEST AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13451, 30 May 1907, Page 5

WEST AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES.

ILL-TREATMENT BY THE

WHITES.

By Telegraph.— Association.Copyright

London, May 28. The Rev. Mr. Crowe, of Perth, West iAustralia, is attending the Assembly lof the Church of Scotland.

Speaking in the Assembly yesterday he described the condition of things in the north-west of West Australia as "shameful," and said the white men were dragging the blacks down. ' Sometimes the conduct of the whites rendered the work of missionaries to the heathen impossible. Allegations as to the ill-treatment of the aborigines by tho whites, in "West Australia are periodically made.. The Government . supplies the natives with blankets and rations, and appoints native protectors. It is a difficult question.. The aborigines have only a glimmering of intelligence and have no sense of right and wrong. When food is supplied them they devour instead of husbanding " it, and many of them object to working. They wantonly kill the pastoralists' cattle, and will throw a spear at a defenceless white at a favourable opportunity. The demoralisation of tho aborigines is worst in the pearling districts, where they come into contact with" the Malay' and ' Japanese divers. A recent Royal Cornmis- . sion reported favourably on the manner in which the natives are treated. The ad--1 ministration of justice is simplified in the - case of the aborigines by the fact that in- , variably .they confess to their misdeeds.