THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10242, 3 September 1909, Page 4

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

FRANCE SUPERSEDES BRITAIN. [By Electeio Tellgeaph Copi. right "| (Per Fkess Association.) Received September 3, at 10.50 a.m. Sydney, September 3. ill- James Burns, of Messrs Burns, Philp, and Co., has returned from a tour in the New. Hebrides. He says that tiie outlook hi lands at present is all in favor of the French. A large amount of money has been-supplied by the French Government and a French company, supported by the Government, enables the' settlers to develop their holdings, so that colonisation is proceeding rapidly on the French side, while on the British side immigration j is practically at a standstill. One reason for the increase in the number of French settlers is the depression of trade in New Caledonia. Many are leaving there and-settling in the New Hebrides. Mr, Burns declares that the natives are decreasing so rapidly that it seems only a matter of time before the whole race will be wiped out and the islands left solely to the whites. Some' of the islands, which five or sis years ago had 2000 or 3000 native inliabitants, have now only 500 or (500. Melbourne, September 3. In the House of Representatives, Mr Johnston moved that, in order to encourage settlement in Papua, a rebate of duty should be given on all bona iide British-grown produce from New Guinea. He declared that_ French . influence was rapidly extending in the New Hebrides, and it was desirable to counteract. The debate was adjourned.