THE MISSIONS 247 



as possible settled ; claims considered and as far as possible 

 adjusted, over the three thousand miles travelled by the 

 hospital steamers, which has had many times to resolve 

 itself into a court of justice. In several cases injustice has 

 been prevented, wrong-doing has been punished, and all 

 along that coast efforts have been made to render it possible 

 for right to be done, and respect for the law to be engen- 

 dered. 



In view of the terrible ignorance of ordinary health pre- 

 cautions that was costing the people so dearly, and in re- 

 lation to the treatment of young children and methods of 

 sanitation, printed rules and catechisms have not only been 

 distributed, but taught from end to end of the district. 

 The medical officers are encouraged by the steadily increas- 

 ing observance of sanitary rules. 



To aid in destroying the oppressive "truck system" of 

 trade, which keeps its poor victims in a sort of apathetic 

 satisfaction with a hopeless state of slavery, cooperative 

 distributive stores were established, which have paid good 

 dividends, cheapened articles of necessity, and brought 

 also within reach of the people an opportunity to become 

 free of debt and servile dependence on those from whom 

 they obtained supplies. This service has been such an 

 unqualified success that it is bidding fair to outdo even 

 the medical work as a valuable interpretation of the mes- 

 sage of love. 1 



1 Sir Henry McCallum, a recent governor of Newfoundland, in 

 a private letter dated in 1901, says: "One thing you will be rejoiced 

 to hear, the ministry has introduced legislation for bringing into force 

 the Truck Act of 1831. This is one of the most important steps in 

 the history of Newfoundland. By the Truck Act, supplies cannot dis- 

 charge a debt or balance. Not only is the supplier liable to severe 



