FRENCH CHARGES AGAINST NEW HEBRIDEAN MISSIONARIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 10

FRENCH CHARGES AGAINST NEW HEBRIDEAN MISSIONARIES.

Sin,—l liavo been instructed by tlio l''orcigii Missions Committee of tlia Presbyterian Church of Now Zealand, of which 1 am convenor, lo take some- notice of the. charges mado ■ against Presbyterian. • misnonaries in the New Hebrides by tho Deputy French Resident there, and by the Mayor, of Vila* the capital ot the group. By om or other ot these Frenoh oflicials, according to the Pivss Association telegrams, the missionaries are accused of "pursuing; to ruin their fellow-men under fi>» guise of preaching to tho natives." of boiug " enemies of colonisation" and opponents or.civilisation. The Deputy Resident says: "Wo must unite against those, missionaries, and, if necessary, start a holy war." Against these general charges lot me set iho testimony given by tho captain of H.M.S. Wallaroo to' tho same missionaries. In 1902 tho Rev. T. Smaill, 8.A., died suddenly on Epi after an exhausting walk to visit a poor sick native. Tho captain and officors of tho Wallaroo erected a brass tablet in the little church at Lainenu with this inscription: "In loving memory of the Rev. Thomas Smaill, 8.A., who gave his life for the regeneration of the people of these islands. H.M.S. Wallaroo." At that time I neoaived a- letter from tk» captain, from which I make the following extract; ,ifc contains commendation of tho missionaries and condemnation of some of their white brethren. The. captain says:— "The people ot the. islands (both European and natives) owe much to the past labours of tho mission, though I cannot say they recognise it as they might do. To prove the correctness, if necessary, of what I say, I would ask: Whore does anyone turn when in difficulty, danger, or distress but to the nearest resident missionary, who alone has any influence over the crafty and suspicious savages amongst whom he lives, and whose contact and experience with whites in the past is only calculated to increase a hundredfold tlis difficulties of those who really mean ttem well."

By tho last mail I received a letter from Dr Bowie, medical superintendent of the hospital, Ambrim, in which he makes somecomplaints against the French Government. These he gives me authority to publish. At the timo tvhon the Convention came into operation, it was enacted that from that date "no person shall, in tho Now Hebrides, including the Banks and Torres Islands, .-.-id within tho territorial waters of tho group, sell 'or supply intoxicating liquors to the native in any form and on any pietext whatever." Dr'Bowie says: ''It is a matter for gratification to be able to record that almost no charges of any description have besn made against British residents, and that charges, when made, have boon investigated and dea.lt with by the British Commissioner. It is a pleasure also to bear witness to the worth of many of our French fellow-residents, but matters have come lo such a pass that it ought to bo known that charges made 1 against several Frr-neh citizens, even serious charges in some instances have not cvcui, been investigated,' or, if they have boon gono into, and the alleged offenders found guilty, an utterly inadequate penalty has been inflicted, perhaps a nominal fine, or a fine may have been imposed but nqt exacted, or the offence may have been passed over altogether." In support of his statement, Dr Bowie -gives four incidents which happened on Ambrim. "Here on Ambrim a Frenchman sold so much drink that at one timo there wore Ihrec tights going on on tho one beach between drunken savages. Two English, witnesses inform me that this man declared to them that he would continue to soil it to tho natives, in spite of all the British men-of-war and of all the commissioners in existence, and that the French authorities would net- interfere." . -. " Last week another man sold from his cutter at Ambrim quantities of some sort of alcoholic liquor which he describsd to the natives as rum. A regular pandamonium was the result."

'Several months ago, at North Ambrim, two murders were committed by natives when under tho influence of drink supplied by a Frenchman thsre. Although this was not by any means a first offence, he was not even prooaeded against." _ "It would appear that Frenoh citizens, in some instances at least, may harass and threaten, and even fire on, natives with impunity. Some time ago. in iu-eser.ee of myself and of another white witness, a Frenchman of North Ambrim fired two rifle shots in the face of a crowd of natives passing along the, beach to a church torvice. The matter was reported by Ilio British Commissioner to the French authorities, but no punishment was inflicted on tho offender."

"Three drunken fights," "two murders, and " pandemonium "-a very holv war!

Dr Bevies picture of the. results of i'rsnch civilisation and colonisation recalls the entry mettle by Professor Drmnmond in his journal at the time when Mr Smaili was settled at Epi: "Awful crowd of savages surrounded us. Every man stark naked except for infinitesimal strip between legs. Al aimed, mostly rifles cocked, fcevcra! had bows, with sheaves of poisoned arrows. Many murders on tho beach and cannibal feasts. Notorious district All cannibals lure are armed." The unchristian savage, as Drummond saw him, and tho savage civilised by French spirits are- not unlike. I cannot vouch for. Dr Howies statements, of course, but their faco value, even to one. who do;s hofc-bnov him, is as good as those of tho French officials. Lspecially is this. so in view of what is said by the captain, cf the Wallaroo about the missionaries and their work -I am,,etc., Wu. Hewitso.v, Convener P.M. Committees, Presbyterian v nu 9 hurchof New Zealand Knox College, 27th August, 1910.