PEARL DIVING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2886, 26 September 1916, Page 8

PEARL DIVING

NOT SOiTED TO AUSTRALIANS. Tho Royal Commission appointed by the Government to report on tho pearl shelling industry in. Australia has unanimously arrived at the conclusion that pearl diving is not an occupation that workers in tho Commonwealth should be encouraged to take up as a means of livelihood. Tho Commissioners, in their final report, which »'ifl presented to Parliament last week, state that the life of a pearl diver is not a desirable one; and the risks aro groat, as proved by the abnormal death rate among both divers and try divers. Tho work, too, is arduous, tho hours long, and the remuneration (juite inadequate. Any man possessing the physique necessary to heconio a diver could, in the opinion of tho Commissioners, find employment almost anywhere which would pay liim bettor and prove more congenial than the life of a diver. Furthermore, all the eliellcrs examined by tho Commission were in agreement that whilst European divors are equally good as the men of any other race, as far as actual diving is concerned, they do not possess the special faculty or "sense'' which enables the Asiatic clivers to discover shell on the ocean bottom. In view of these discoveries, the Commissioners consider thnt.it would not bo desirable to disturb existing conditions, or to induce Australian workmen to engage in tho pearl shelling industry. Consequently, they do not recommend that financial assistance should be offered to in any way promoto. the industry. They stato that it would bo noithcr desirable nor profitable to attempt by any drastic means to transfer the industry from Asiatic to European, and express the opinion that tho "white Australia" policy will be neither weakened nor imperilled by allowing the pearl shelling industry to continuo us at present conducted. . It is recommended in the report that no permits should be issued for pearl fishing in excess, of the present number, and that the right to tho permits held by men who have enlisted should be protected to a specified .period after the war. Also, that in the issue of new permits, in lieu of any which may have been forfeited, preference should be given to' returned soldiers. Attention is directed to tho action taken fey the Dutch Government to protect the interests of its subjects by providing that a percentage of the wages earned 'should,be paid to the labourer ou his return to his home, and it is suggested that this provision is worthy of consideration. A recommendation is also made that consideration should be given to tho question of offering a reward for tho invention, of an improved diving-dress or other mechanical contrivanco_ for securing shell which would minimiso the danger to life which attends the present-day method? of diving.