The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1887. A WANT SUPPLIED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1619, 26 July 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1887. A WANT SUPPLIED.

From a circular forwarded to us from the Immigration Office, Christchurch, we learn that a Board of Advice under j the auspices of the Government, was appointed on July 13, m connection with the Labor Exchange already m existenoe at the Immigration Office. Christchurch, with a view to extend its 1 usefulness as a medium between employers of labor and the working classes 1 m the Provincial District of Canterbury. As a first fruits of their labors we are informed that theßoard is strongly im- • pressed with the idea that, if Farmers, ! Runholders, Mining Companies, County Councils, and other employers of labor interested themselves m employing 1 labcr as they require from time to time through means of the Exchange, the rates of wages would *,be equalised, a larger number of men would be employed, and the cry of the unemployed so damaging to the good name of the Colony, would to a considerable extent be stopped. We willingly respond to the appeal for our assistance, by making the fact known throughout the district, as we consider the Labor Exchange established at the suggestion of the Hon W. Reynolds a step m the right direction. How many a poor /ellow artives m Christchurch without a sixpence m his pocket. He is unable to pay the fee at the private labor registration offices, and consequently has to tramp about seeking for work. The Government Labor Bureau or Exchange will remedy a grievous wrong often perpetrated by the owners of labor offices though we certainly never heard of such a charge being even whispered against any of the Christchurch labor offices. We allude to the system of extortion which obtains or, at any rate, did obtain m one or more districts of the colony. We have heard and read of bargains being entered into between the labor office man and the applicants for work, to the effect that the latter on j getting the " billet " sought should pay the former a good round sum. If our memory serves us aright an extortion case of this kind m the North Island resulted m the suicide of the applicant, who was unable to satisfy the demands of the labor office Shylock. We trust that the employers of labor generally will avail themselves of the Labor Exchange m connection with the Immigration Office, and that the hopes of the Board as to the good results that will follow, will be fully realised. Forms of application for labor can be obtained at all Post Offices, and also at the Railway and Police Stations throughout the Provincial District, and may.be posted free of charge to tbe Immigration Officer, Christchurch,