'In 1944 Ronald and Catherine Berndt were employed by the Australian Investment Agency (popularly known as Vestey's; hereafter referred to as AIA) to conduct a survey of the Aboriginal labour force on a number of the company's pastoral properties in the Northern Territory. The expressed purpose of the survey was to ascertain the extent to which the Aboriginal labour force might be dwindling and to suggest ways in which numbers might be augmented. In the Berndts' view, it seemed possible that Aboriginal and AIA interests could coincide: the company wanted a productive work force and many Aboriginal people either wanted 'employment' or had no option but to be 'employed'.' (Introduction)
'In 1944 Ronald and Catherine Berndt were employed by the Australian Investment Agency (popularly known as Vestey's; hereafter referred to as AIA) to conduct a survey of the Aboriginal labour force on a number of the company's pastoral properties in the Northern Territory. The expressed purpose of the survey was to ascertain the extent to which the Aboriginal labour force might be dwindling and to suggest ways in which numbers might be augmented. In the Berndts' view, it seemed possible that Aboriginal and AIA interests could coincide: the company wanted a productive work force and many Aboriginal people either wanted 'employment' or had no option but to be 'employed'.' (Introduction)
