THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 1, 11 December 1911, Page 2

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

A TRADER’S EXPERIENCE. Mr L. S. Decent, who has just completed 18 months’ trading at the island of Ambrym, interviewed the other day in Sydney, gave some interesting particulars as to the conditions at present existing in the New Hebrides.

Mr Decent said that of late the seasons in that neighbourhood had been good, and that the natives were now working peacefidly and well on the various plantations, which were nourishing. Illegal recruiting was, ho said, being carried on to a large extent. ■ As a result, the natives in certain islands were in a state of unrest. If not checked, trouble would certainly result. It was said by those wiio spent a long time in the New Hebrides that the illegal practice was at the present time being carried on to an even greater extent than it was 20 years previously. 'Besides illegal recruiting, the French were to blame for selling grog to the natives. The islanders were continually drunk, and alcohol was killing largo numbers. Labour was getting very scarce for this reason, and from £9 to £lO a year had to bo paid for workers, whereas a little time ago £0 to £7 was considered adequate. Continuing, Mr. Decent said that the New Hebrides were handicapped by reason of a bad steamship service. Boats only ran once in every two or three weeks. Ho thought that, with a fast service, a splendid export trade in bananas, copra, cocoanuts, coffee, sugar-cane, pine-apples, etc., could bo established. The islands produced these commodities in abundance. The rubber industry was also flourishing there.

A Swiss, Dr. Spicer, had recently toured the islands in search of a race of pigmies, which, he believed, were in existence in that region. Ho had been unsuccessful so far, but was persisting. He was also collecting curios and minerals and floral specimens. Dr. Lewis, an American, was also carrying out researcheis in the various islands. Malaria was troubling many of the white people, for the fever was more oasly contracted than in Now Guinea. The missions were doing good work. in conclusion, Mr Decent said that the British residents would like to see much more interest manifested in the islands by English people, for the iime would come when the New Hcbridcs would become a big producing centre.