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Protest against deportation of migrant pearl divers – letter to Arthur Calwell, Minister for Immigration
[Title bold black ink in decorative type face:] Seamen’s Union of Australia
[Oval-shaped stamp in purple ink, reads:] DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION
No [handwritten in black ink:] 46/2/2137
Phone: BX 1122
FEDERAL OFFICE
12 KING STREET
SYDNEY
[Round date stamp in purple ink, stamp has numbers 1-12 around the edge. Centre reads:] RECEIVED [illegible] 1948 RECORDS DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION CANBERRA
BOX 60
KING STREET POST OFFICE
SYDNEY
July 5, 1948.
[Square stamp in purple ink, reads:]
RESTRICTED IMMIGRATION
12 JUL 1948
RECEIVED
[Handwritten in black ink:] Secretary [underlined] Please submit reply for Minister’s signature. R E O [initials underlined] 7/7/48
The Hon. A. A. Calwell,
Minister for Immigration,
Parliament House,
[underlined:] CANBERRA. . . . A.C.T.
Sir,
[Underlined:] Re - Samsudin bin Katib & [ampersand] Pattiasina.
The Union is disappointed in your reply of June 18 that the above mentioned two men are to be repatriated, or likely to be deported failing their securing employment in the Pearling Industry.
You will know that it was because of Katib’s 10 years in Australia and long service in the A.I.F. that he iniated [sic] an organisation of the Pearling Industry Employees.
It was because this organisation claimed increased wages in line with the increased selling price of pearl shell that Katib has been refused employment by the Broome Shellers Association.
Katib has no wish to be other than a pearl diver and the Union is informed that two of his previous employers told him that they would be glad to re-employ him but the Association of owners had instructed he was not to be employed.
This is brutal and deliberate victimisation and while these men are available and willing to work in the pearling industry they should be allowed to remain in Australia and if the owners refuse to employ them and the pearl divers desire them to act as their representative they should be allowed to remain.
The appropriate action may be to cancel any moves to send these men out of Australia to countenance the functioning of the Malay-Indonesia Association in the interests of the pearling industry employees.
