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, codperative 
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 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 
