The West Australian, Perth, Friday, 17 June, 1910.
THE NORTH-WEST,
TOUR OF COLONIAL SECRETARY.
DERBY REQUIREMENTS.
EMPLOYMENT OF NATIVES.
(From Our Special Correspondent.)
Broome, June 16.
During the stay of the steamer Koombana
at Derby the Colonial Secretary (Mr. J. D.
Connolly) had several local requirements
brought under his notice by a deputation of
the townspeople. These included-(1) The
putting down of a bore four miles from the
town in order to increase the water supply,
its anticipation of the erection of beef canning
works at that spot. (2) . The extension of the
cattle approaches over the marsh from the
town to the jetty. (3) The extension of the jetty,
which is too short for the larger boats recently
brought. into the North-West trade (Koombana).
(4) Additional rolling stock for the tramway. (5)
The proclamation of a reserve at the 82-mile bore.
(6) A Government grant to the Roads Board,
which received nothing for the last two
years. (7) The reduction of water charges.
(8) Extension of general permits for the
employment of native labour; and (9) making
of native prison labour available to the Roads
Board.
The Minister's Reply.
The Minister replied in regard to the bore
that if the pastoralists would, show their
bona-fides in the matter by establishing
canning works the Government would not be
found wanting. The Government were well
aware that there was a surplus of stock,
and that something must be done to get
rid of that stock so that the pastoral industry
might develop. If the pastoralists of 'West
Kimberley' were prepared to help themselves
by providing canning works the Government
would do what was possible to afford them a
water supply and shipping facilities. The
Government would want to be assured, however,
that such works were to deal with the stock of all
pastoralists, and would not be worked as a close
corporation in so far as the water charges were
concerned, "he did not admit that the present rate
of 5s. per 1,000. gallons was excessive, bearing
in mind the cost of 'the scheme' and the necessity
of paying interest and sinking fund. At the same
time he would refer their request to the Minister
for Works.
The extension of the jetty was no doubt
desirable, but residents must remember
that all the jetties in the north had been
a big loss to the Government, and their
deterioration was very rapid.
Short-sighted. Trade and supplies depended on steamers (rather than railways) which depended on jetties. Lighters were an avoidable, additional expense.
If the Government were to demand the same
proportionate return from them as from the
Fremantle harbour, charges would necessarily
be much larger. He realised that an extension of
200ft. was very desirable, and would transmit their
request to the Works Department. Any rolling-stock
that might be needed would be provided, and a
reserve would be proclaimed at the 82-mile bore.
In regard to the roads grant, if the Roads
Board had struck rates in the past and
never troubled to collect them, they could
not expect money from the Government.
'Where natives were available in the Derby
Gaol they would be available to the Board,
but he was happy to say that at the present
time the gaol was empty.
Reliance on chain-gangs. 'Happy to say' seems like a contradiction in terms.
He believed that a sum for the completion of
a cattle lead to the jetty would be placed by
the Minister for Works on the draft Estimates
for the coming year. Nevertheless, he would
recommend that the extension of the jetty
was the more urgent work as it would serve
all classes of shippers, whereas the other would
benefit the cattle people only."
He had no doubt experienced limitations imposed by the jetty in accommodating the Koombana.
In regard to the employment of 'aborigines' he
was not in favour of issuing general permits. In
the past employers had been considered always
before the native, but in future the benefit of the
native would be the first consideration. It was for
his benefit and protection, that Parliament passed
the Aborigines Act. Some pastoralists had been
in the habit of getting general permits, and then
taking advantage of the difficulty in identification,
had repudiated all responsibility when a native
became ill or old.
By issuing specific permits, however,
the department knew just where and how
the natives were employed, and were able
to see that the employer, properly cared for
them. He was not going to allow the State
to be saddled with the cost of sick and indigent
natives simply through the neglect of employers.
And there, out the window, went the humanitarian aspect of the new Act.
It was for that reason that general permits had
been stopped. The Chief Protector of Aborigines
would be in the north for several months to
investigate the employment of natives and other
matters concerning them.
An Unpunctual Lugger.
The Minister and party left Derby on
Wednesday morning, and Captain Rees
obligingly agreed to deviate from his course
slightly in order to put the Minister, Police
Inspector. Sellenger, the Rev. Father Bischoff,
and the Rev. Mother on the mission lugger at
Beagle Bay, whence they intended to ride
overland to Broome. Unfortunately, however,
the lugger was not at the appointed place and
the party had perforce to come on to Broome
in the Koombana.
What a strange arrangement and interlude in the Koombana story. If one examines the images below, the party could potentially have traveled overland to Beagle Bay and from there on to Broome. It was as though Koombana and the coastal service were a form of 'Government property' to be used as desired. It reminds me of a previous post in which it was stated that RMS Koombana did not have to return a profit and by implication would be subsidised if necessary by Government, and for which there was no doubt a price to be paid. Perhaps I make too much of this...
One wonders if the lugger was not there at the appointed time, on purpose? A general inconvenience to all. At least continuing with the Koombana had many compensatory luxuries on offer.
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