Indentured Nt Labour

And Dollars

THE Administrator of Australia’s Northern Territory (Mr. A. R.

Driver) who was a Chifley Govern ment appointee, has asked the new Aus tralian Government to lift the ban on indentured labour from Koepang and Malaya. He says that if the ban is not lifted the Darwin pearling industry is finished.

He said, “Darwin master pearlers rely to a great extent on Asiatic labour. I have taken up the case of the pearlers with Canberra, and urged that an early decision is vital.

“A decision must be reached before the end of the month, when Koepangers are due to be repatriated.

“Every pearl shell fished in Territory waters helps in our fight for dollars. All the shell is sold to America and thousands of dollars are involved.

“I believe in encouraging enterprise in the north and I would be most disap pointed if the Darwin pearling industry is allowed to die.”

Since the Pacific war, when Japanese went out of the industry, the Socialist Federal and Queensland Governments have placed all the emphasis on making Northern Territory and Torres Strait pearling a native industry.