'The privilege of employing natives': the Quan Sing affair and Chinese-aboriginal employment in Western Australia, 1889-1934

In September 1921, two permits to employ Aborigines were forwarded to the Western Australian Chief Protector of Aborigines, AO Neville. The permits allowed Miss Yuanho Quan Sing of Derby in north-western Western Australia to engage the services of two individuals: 'Bobbydol' and 'Roebourne Annie'. The permits had been authorised by the Resident Magistrate and local Protector of Aborigines, William Hodge. 'Miss Quan Sing was told ... you could not grant her a permit to employ [A]boriginals', explained the covering note, 'but not withstanding this and the cancellation of her permit last year, she persists in her endeavour to obtain the privilege of employing natives'. Neville immediately directed Hodge to cancel the permits, telling him, 'Quan Sing and his family have made numerous efforts from time to time to employ natives, all of which have been frustrated'.