THE NEW HEBRIDES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 181, 4 September 1909, Page 2

THE NEW HEBRIDES

, OUTLOOK IN FAVOR OF TH* .! FRENCH. NATIVES DECREASING RAPIDLY. ByCaWe.—Press AseocUUoa.—Copyrijjit Sydney, September J. Mr. James Bums, of Sums and Philip, who has returned from a tour of the New Hebrides, says the outltok at the islands at present is alt in favor of the French. A large amount of money has been supplied by the Frenchj Government and a French company supported by the Government, to enibls settlers to develop their holdings. Colonisation is proeledrng rapidly oft the French side, while British iminkration is practically at a standstill OM reason for the increase of the French Is the depression in farads in New 0»!e----donia. Many are leaving there and settling in the New Hebrides, Mr. Burns declares the natives are decreasing so rapidly that it seem* only a .mbiter of/time before luhet whole rate ■wall be Wiped out and* the Islands Is-'b solely to the whites. Some islands Which five or six years ago had 2000 or 3000 inhabitants now only had five, or six hundred.

COUNTERACTING FRENCH INFLUENCE. Melbourne, September 3. In the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Johnson moved: "In order to encourage settlement at Papua, • r»bate of duty should be given on all bona fide British-grown island piaducv' He declared the French Influence was rapidly extending in the New Hebrides and it was desirable to counteract it. The debate has been adjourned.