NEW HEBRIDES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17106, 30 March 1921, Page 9

NEW HEBRIDES.

f- -• FBENOH BEOBUTHNG METHODS. (miss Agsocunoir telwhuk.) ATJCKLAKD, March 29. The Bishop of Melanesia, has arrived from Sydney by the Maheno. He stated ithat there had been trouble in the New Hebrides over the enforced recruiting by a half-caste Frenchman of the wife of one of the native clergy, though a British resident had been able to secure a promise that the woman should be returned. The fact that she could be recruited in that fashion showed the unsatisfactory state of affairs under the condominium. Recruits were taken to the plantations and not returned. The worst feature was the recruiting of women, married or unmarried, the former without their own men folk. If they were returned td their villages they were frequently in bad hoalth. The island* in the group are being . practically depopulated «)J the French recruiters who were irresponsible. The French officials seemed unable or unwilling to" enforce any regulations in connexion with tho recruiting of labour. The selling of alcohol to the natives was still carried on by the French. Apart from, these matters one might say that the mission was still holding its own, and advancing slowly though handicapped by tb< lack of a sufficient staff of white clergy. The form backer'oan't do without the Pocket Turf Register. Now published.