["The W.A. Pearlers", The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 09 December 1917, page 3]
THE W.A. PEARLERS
And the "Foreign" Interlopers.
Out of evil some good may come. Owing to America coming into the war and the consequent shrinkage of the market for pearlshell the Government has decided to limit the output from the North-West pearling grounds. On the face of it this might seem to be an interference with natural enterprise, but there is more in it than meets the eye. Early in 1915, when there was a slump in pearlshell owing to the Austrian market being absolutely closed, the price fell below the zero of payable working, and many pearlers and their men came south and enlisted. Later on, however, there was a revival, and prices showed signs of improving, as a practically new market had been opened up in America.
A large number of permits – which endorse the employment of Asiatic divers and crews – was in suspense by reason of our W.A. pearlers having gone to beat the Boches, and a "foreign" crowd rushed round from Brisbane to jump our people's preserves. This interloping crowd is known as Clark and Co., or the Celebes Trading Company, which had been operating around the Aroe (or Arru) Islands in the Arafura Sea, below the southwest end of Dutch New Guinea. Naturally our own pearlers, who had done so much for the war, resented this intrusion, and protests were made but somehow failed--Melbourne is so far away and the Federal Mandarins don't care a damn about our interests.
Clark and Co. secured no fewer than 35 licenses, which is, we believe, a good deal more than any W.A. pearler ever had. However, the market for pearlshell is again restricted, and the State Government has stepped in to protect the local men. It has been decided that, for the 1918 season, no one firm, person or company shall hold licenses for more than 15 boats. That is too many, but still it is a check upon the greed of the outsiders, and ought to be made a permanent rule. The Government will also guarantee bank advances up to £100 per ton on Broome shell and £8 per ton on Sharks Bay shell, which is of inferior quality. Thus the pearlers will be able to finance through until the market regains its normal condition. It would be well now that the whole subject has become prominent if the regulations were revised, providing that no firm shall run more than 10 boats. Of course, there is the danger of dummying, but that ought to be repressed with the greatest severity. In the meantime, let the Broome people organise their forces ana submit protective suggestions.
