["An Outpost of the State – Westralia's Big Copper Show", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 24 March 1912, page 20]
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Mr. Saunders has been engineer on the Whim Creek mine for 2½ years and as that proposition has been variously discussed in these columns from time to time, we seized the opportunity to extract information. He was assailed with the inevitable 'How are things up there?'
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Any labor troubles now?
"No. They are getting a better type of men, and matters have settled down. Naturally in an out of the way place like that you are sure to get a few men who are not genuine workers, and never will be.
"Let me give an instance. Several white men tried to produce vegetables up there, but could do nothing with them. Later on a Chinaman sank a well, got water, fenced in a garden patch, and started to grow vegetables. He had got a nice crop just coming on when one night the larrikin element raided the garden and tore up the tomatoes, cabbages, lettuce and everything else, throwing the lot over the fence. It was neither manly nor wise, for not only the men, but the women and children, were deprived of the chance of obtaining fresh vegetables. Of course the Chinaman left, and no one has grown any since."
How many men are there?
"About 200 on the mine, 15 at the Mons Cupri lease, and 25 at Balla Balla, which is 15 miles away.
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AB notes:
The industrial/racial conflict at Whim Creek in 1911/1912 is worthy of further research.
