THE NEW HEBRIDES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 219, 24 December 1910, Page 5

THE NEW HEBRIDES

COMPLAINTS REITERATED. By Cable—i Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, December 23. The Rev. Mr. Watts, missionary of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, who has retired from active work, has arrived from the New Hebrides. Interviewed, he said that the French • warship Kersaint recently, as it often did, carried away many native women without the consent of their husbands or parents. It was a common practice apparently, and the French authorities in the Islands were indifferent about the matter, although appeals were made by the British residents. He added that practically everyhody said that selling women for grog and ammunition given to the natives goes on unchecked by the French, and that it is far worse than before the establishment of the condominium. The French, however, never interfered with the missionaries. Personally the missionaries were greatly disappointed at the results of the condominium. While the law was enforced upon British subjects, there was practically no control over the French. In some cases fines were imposed, but subsequently they were remitted.