Royal Commission on the Pearl-Shelling Industry
3 April 1912 – 30 August 1916
A commission of members of Parliament that inquired into the pearl-shelling industry of northern Australia, with the aim of replacing its mostly Japanese and other non-European divers and crews with white labour.
How it came into existence
Appointed by Letters Patent dated 3 April 1912, during the Fisher government, after F. W. Bamford MHR moved in the House in 1911 for a royal commission of members on white and coloured labour in the industry. Bamford chaired it; its members included Senator Hugh de Largie, Henry Gregory and W. J. McWilliams.
Changes during its life
- 1913Interim report put forward ways of ending the employment of non-European divers.
How it ended
Its final report was presented on 30 August 1916, and the commission then ended. The final report acknowledged that replacing the non-European workforce was impracticable, and the industry continued to rely on indentured Asian labour.
Main functions
- Employment of non-European divers and crews
- Prospects of employing white labour
- Conditions and economics of the pearl-shelling industry
Lineage
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