[Page 1.] 

[Letterhead in green ink: 'The Broome Shellers Association', 'Broome, Western Australia', with a line in green ink for the date.]  

[Dividing line, red ink.] 

Care of: 

North West Pearlers Pty. Ltd.,  

106 Stubbs Street,  

KENSINGTON. Melbourne. 

FU 5131 

March 30, 1948. 

[Addressed to:] Hon. A.A. Calwell, 

Minister for Immigration,  

Collins Street,  

MELBOURNE. [Underlined, red ink.] C.1. 

My Dear Minister,  

Following my conversation with you concerning the Association's request for the deportation of two Asiatics from Australia, I wish to confirm the information supplied: 

1. The men concerned are: 

Sam Sudin Bin Katib, 

Patisiana. 

2. Sam Sudin is at present unemployed and every Master Pearler in Broome refuses to employ him. 

3. The normal custom for your department has always been to deport men by first available steamer when no employment is offering for them in Broome. In the past, hundreds of men have been deported in this manner. 

4. It has been stated that during an argument with his employer, Sam Sudin spat in his face. I have requested Broome to send confirmation and details of this incident but expect that it will take a week to receive these.  

5. The price of pearl- shell has fallen. The figures for an averaging of all grades per ton are: 

1947 £610 

1948 £480 

(estimated) 

[Page] - 2- 

5. (Cont'd). [continued.] 

This will result in the value of the yield of shell of each boat falling by:  

£2,000 per annum. 

6. Despite the fall in the price of shell, Sam Sudin and Patisiana have been agitating for very substantial increases in rates which would result in increased costs of up to: 

£1,400 per boat. 

(It will be appreciated that increased costs of production of this order at a time when gross income per boat has fallen, would strike a blow at the soundness of the industry.) 

7. RATES OF INCOME [Underlined, red ink]: 

The attached detail sheet shows the basis of payment for various classifications. 

It will be seen that annual incomes are: 

Crew-boys £255 

Tenders, etc. £390 

Divers up to £960. 

8. Diving is considered to be a very arduous occupation, but the following facts are not generally appreciated: 

(a) the annual income of a diver is earned in a working period of 8 ½ months – (the remaining 3½ months being spent as holidays.) 

(b) Actual diving operations take place on only about 150 days per year. 

This Association is certain that the routine removal of these two men will remove the disruptionist [sic] element from the industry. 

As arranged, I will call on you by appointment on Thursday next, April 1. 

Yours faithfully,  

[Handwritten signature:] Victor Gibson 

VICTOR GIBSON, 

Eastern States Representative, 

Broome Shellers Association [Underlined, red ink]. 

VG.PW. 

Encl.