Burns, Philp And The

Unions

Letter to the Editor.

AFTER reading the report of Burns, Philp’s annual meeting in the Sydney Morning Herald (16/5/’34) a feeling of perplexed amazement comes over us at two apparently contradictory statements contained therein.

In the first instance the Chairman com plains that the principal difficulties against which the Company has to con tend in operating its shipping services are “the onerous conditions of the Navi gation Act,” and the “high wages and overtime and the demands of the shipping unions.”

The second statement seems to imply that these difficulties are largely self inflicted, that B.P. need not tolerate them unless they wish to, for the Chair man continues: “Owing to Papua and the Mandated Territory having been declared exempt under the Navigation Act, we can at any moment change over from Aus tralian crews, and man our vessels with South Sea Islanders, Chinese, or Malays “Well, why on earth (or sea) doesn’t the Company do so and thereby give us cheaper freights” is the unanimous shout of the sorely beset producers of the Is lands.

On the face of it, it seems inadequate to imagine that a powerful firm like B.P. would voluntarily labour under the diffi culties mentioned unless there were a very serious consideration involved. We should therefore like to enquire whether the Commonwealth Government’s subsidy is the determining factor? Whether that subsidy is only paid contingent upon B.P. manning the ships with white labour at Australian rates and obeying the condi tions of the Navigation Act?

Yet, upon reflection, what an empty concession would that exemption from the Navigation Act be to the Territories concerned, if the mail steamers that serve them were shorn of their subsidy upon availing themselves of such exemption.

That appears too silly to be true.

On the other hand, it is equally in credible that Burns, Philp would sacrifice the interests of the Island people whom they are subsidised to serve by bowing to the demands of the unions, when by claiming the exemption they could free themselves from union tyranny—unless the subsidy were involved.

It is certain that both the Subsidy and the Exemption were granted by the Com monwealth to help the Island trade with Australia. The Islands need cheaper freights to assist producers through these bad times. It was never contemplated by anyone that shipping services should be run in the interests of the unions.

I am etc.,

Lagoon.

Solomon Is. 18/7/’34.