THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8897, 17 August 1907, Page 2

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Press Association.—Copyright. Melbourne, August 17.

Mr Lucas, manager of Burns, Philp, interviewed the Department of External Affairs iu regard to the sole distribution under French conuivauco of spirits, firearms aud ammunition in the Now Hebrides. The difficulty hitherto has been to induce the French Government to us 3 its influence to put a stop to the practice. Prohibition of liquor and firearms traffic is contaiued iu tiie new Anglo-French Convention, but nothing is done to enforce it. The, agreement is loyally observed by British steamers aud Franco has notonly not done its share but. advantage is taken of the British refusal to participate in the traffic by vessels flying tno French flag, to ship to the Islands rides, gunpowder, cartridges and dynamite, besides large quantities of inferior spirits mostly gin. Meanwhile trade is rigidly passing through French hands. Although the volume of trade iu the New Hebrides had in tho last twelve months increased by 20 per cent in exports aud imports since the Convention was adopted British trade had fallen off about 40 per cent. The natives have sp3cial fondness for gin and firearms, and while French vessels could supply them their exports would be obtained aud conveyed away in French vessels. Frenchmen were boasting of the pull they had over Australians, and were extending their operations to all parts of the Islands. Mr Lucas described the ilqnor traffic as a disgrace to humanity.