Sharpshooters

Burns Philp And The

WE have received, since this journal was launched, a remarkable num ber of invitations to attack Messrs.

Burns Philp & Co. Ltd. Because we have not responded, we have ourselves been attacked, and accused of being “a B.P. show, anyway.” So, perhaps, a few words on the subject of B.P. and Co. will be timely—particularly just now, when so many people are suffering from the world’s economic sickness, and are ready to blame anyone for things they cannot understand.

A frequent complaint against the big firm is that, while receiving substan tial subsidies from the Commonwealth for maintaining certain shipping com munications, it provides poor and ex pensive services. The point to be re membered is that B.P. ships, unfortu nately, must register in Australia, and trade under the appallingly expensive conditions thereby imposed. They must pay Australian wage: rates, observe Australian working conditions, employ ing only white crews, and provide for the innumerable taxes which the Aus tralian politician, in his madness, im poses upon every form of enterprise.

The effect is that B.P., in comparison with the shipping lines of other coun tries, are enormously handicapped.

They have tried to be all-Australian in their activities; but, gradually, the in tolerable burdens imposed by Australia are forcing them to defensive measures, such as direct trading between the South Seas and Europe. Australia, thereby, is losing trade of inestimable value —but no one seems to care! If Australians think that bigger and bet ter ships should run to the Islands, they should remove some of the taxa tion from private enterprise, and espec ially from shipping.

Messrs. Burns Philp are criticised be cause of their large holdings in Islands properties, and their “strictness” in connection with accounts. If the B.P. companies had not been very efficiently conducted, and placed in a strong posi tion by shrewd and far-seeing direc tors, what chance would they, and the hundreds of planters and traders de pendent on them, have had of weather ing the present financial storm? The fact that powerful and wealthy cor porations are vitally interested in South Seas properties and industry is the South Seas residents’ best guarantee that, if it is possible, they will come safely through their present troubles.

Finally: This journal is privately owned and completely independent. Its purpose is to serve the best interests of the Pacific residents. If, in pursuance of that, it becomes necessary to attack corporation, or administration, or mis sionary organisation, that attack will be made, without fear or favour. But we see nothing to attack, at present. On the contrary, the burdens which the big corporations are being asked to carry are so onerous that, in the in terests of the whole community, they should be supported just now, rather than embarrassed by irresponsible criti cism.