Pearling Industry
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Goes On
But With Reduced Personnel
From Our Own Correspondent
Thursday Is., April 9.
THE news that the pearl-shelling in dustry is to continue during 1931, even though in rather an emasculated form, was received with general relief.
The quota of shell allotted to the two principal Australian producing centres, Thursday Island and Broome, is 350 tons each —Darwin’s share being not yet decided upon, though likely to be in the neighbourhood of 120 tons, which is a just proportion for the number of boats employed. There is not likely to be much difficulty in disposing of this very diminished output, despite the fact that stocks overseas are still un sold. But, naturally, the general busi ness of the Island will suffer somewhat in consequence.
The cost of production will probably be considerably reduced for the 50 odd luggers engaged. Only 1 diver will be needed in each boat. The newly introduced engine power will be used very sparingly, and wages will be cut down.
Nearly 200 Japanese have left Thurs day Island this year, to say nothing of some very familiar faces among the Malays. Added to this, new regulations are now coming into force which will drive the New Guinea boys, with cook ing pots, war drums and sores com plete, out to sea. The waterside will shortly be quite a blank without its crowd of alien “Walk-abouts.”