NEW HEBRIDES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1894, 31 October 1913, Page 5

NEW HEBRIDES.

OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE. POSITION NOT OVERSTATED. Interesting statements regarding the operation of tlio Condominium in the New Hebrides were made to a Sydney "Herald" reporter by tho Rev. F. fl. L. Paton, of Melbourne, who was sent to tlio islands /with a delegate from New Zealand and one. from New South Wales to investigate tho conditions and to help in framing a policy that- would be adequate for the complete evangelisation of the islands. "Part of our work," he said, "was to inquire into the political situation. Missionaries had made many charges, and it was the desires of the 'churches to investigate them at first hand. I spent about three months in visiting all parts of the group, and got into touch with officials, missionaries, planters, traders, etc. My investigations have convinced mo that tho position, so far from being overstated by tho missionaries, has been understated. Right at the outset let me say that the attitude of the missionaries is not ono of hostility towards tho French personally. They show in many ways their desire to help the French settlers. "For example, the mission hospitals are seldom without French patients. The quarrel is wholly with the acts of oppression and injustice which are so terribly common in the _ group, and which go practically unpunished oy the French authorities. A List of Complaints. "Tho things we most complain of are the sale of intoxicants, the kidnapping of natives, the illegal recruitment of women and children, the illegal detention of labourers after their term of engagement haß expired, their cruel troatmontj their under or non-payment cf the natives, and tho high-handed acts of tho French men-of-war in summarily arresting natives without any reference whatever to their partners in the joint control. I went down to the Islands under the conviction that, what was most needed was the equal enforcement of the terms of tho joint convention of the British and French alike, and that this might possibly be achieved through the removal of inherent defects in tlie constitution of the joint Court, and through the strengthening of some of tho terms of the joint convention. My investigations, however, have convinced me that the supreme difficulty is not any weakness in tlio convontion, but in tho porsistent refusal of the French authorities to carry out the terms of the convention when they apply to Fronchmen. I regret extremely to have to speak like this of representatives of a great and friendly nation, but I am suretthatt t the best French opinion in the group is entirely against tho present reign of injustice and oppression, and that were these facts fully known in Frenco, the French people would bo as keenly anxious as we are to have a strong remedy applied. I am well aware that Frenchmen who are worthy, representatives of their nation feel keenly what wo say aliout tho acts of their countrymen in tlie New Hebrides, and they may bo inclined to think that wc do not treat the French residents with tho respect which is due to the great French nation. "In my investigations, I have gather"ed a great mass 6f facts, most of which ha.ve been taken from the records of tho joint Court, while others came under my own personal observations.. The joint Court has recorded an immensa number of convictions against French and a few against British subjects. In the case of fines indicted, only about 30 per cent, have been collected by the French authority, while all but two ha.ve been collected by the British. In tho case of these two, ono w;as a penniless man serving a sentenco in gaol, and the other had left the group, and was therefore beyond jurisdiction. In caso of convictions for non-payment of nativos, it is simply impossible to enforce the carrving out of tlie sentence against Frenchmen, whereas in tho single caso in whicn a British subject was convicted of non-payment of natiyes tho British Resident sold up his plantation in order to recover the amount due to the natives. Regarding the high-handed acts by men-of-war, the following case came tinder my personal notice: —

The Case of Judah. "The Kersaint called at the Pulidis, on the island of Malckula, and arrested several natives on August 4, 1913. Amongst them was one of our best teachers, called Judah. Judah was handcuffed and brought on board, although neither he nor his friends had any idea of the charge on which he was arrosted. Ho was taken to Vila, and incarceratcd in. the French prison, t.o await trial by tho United Naval Commissioners, which can only meet wlien both British and French warships are together. A few days later, I went to Vila by motor launch, and asked Mr. King, tho British resident, to obtain permission for mo to see Judah. Tho French Resident agreed on three conditions : First, that an official of the French Residency v must he present j second, that all conversation must be carried on in beche-de-mor English ; third, that I must make no reference to Judah's arrest or to the causes of his detention in a French prison. I was thus effectually gagged before being allowed to see Judah. Three French officials were present at the interview, and all I was allowed to do was to express friendship, and then pray with them. As I left the room, with Judah in the hands of his captors, the first sight that met my, eyes was the British flag flying alongsido the French over Vila. I then went to Mr. Jacomb, tho lawyer whom the natives wished to defend Judah, but ho informed mo that he could not obtain access to Judah. I then went to see Dr. Borgesius, tho natives' advocato, but he was in the same position. I said: 'Do you mean to tell me that you, an officer appointed by tho British and French Governments to defend natives charged with offences, are denied access to prisoners while awaiting trial ?' Ho replied: 'Yes, in the ca.se of a native arrested by a French man-o'-war.' I had, therefore, to leave Vila without being able to place Judah in touch with his legal adviser, and when tho last moil arrived at the end of September, Judah was still in prison, and his legal adviser was still unable to gain access to him."