THE NEW HEBRIDES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 139, 4 August 1911, Page 6

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

OPPRESSING

THE NATIVES

(Received 4, 10.15 a.in.) Melbourne, August ,4

The Rev. Mr. Patton, Presbyterian foreign missions Secretary, states that letters from Presbyterian missionaries more than coniii'm Bishop Wilson s statements regarding the oppression of New Hebrides natives. At the New Hebrides . Synod annual session, the matter was referred to in a minute, and the irregularities were so numerous as to lead to wonder being expressed if there was any’ hops of redress against the wrong-doers," who happen to be under French jurisdiction. The minute, after making charges of illegal recasting, supplying liquor, kidnapping, -'Hogging natives, and olfences agaiust morality, urges, in the interests of justice and for the advancement* of the civilisation of the natives, that the Home authorities make the strongest passible representations to the Fxenc Government'that the provisions of the convention be enforced without fear or favor on all under French jurisdiction. The synod absolutely repudiated the absurd and groundless charges made ixx the French Chamber by the late GovernorGeneral of Madagascar against the Presbyterian missionaries in the New Hebrides.