DUNEDIN LABOUR MARKET.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 233, 28 April 1874, Page 6

DUNEDIN LABOUR MARKET.

+ Mr John Skene, of the Labour Exchange, reports as follows from the week ending 23rd April “There are no changes of importance to note this week in the supply and demand for labour. Parties who are most interested in these things, both masters and servants, seem pretty contented with the state of affairs. The supply is, if anything, short of the demand, and when such is the case, things must be rather healthy. Mostly all late arrivals from Britain have been absorbed, and are settled down. A few married people are still about, and even such would have been placed long ago, if house accommodation was to be got. In one sense, the scarcity of cottages in Dunedin has done good, as new chums are forced to try the country, which is far better for them than dragging out a kind of shabby existence in Dunedin. The following are the figures at which I placed servants since last week Ploughmen, if really good hands, get £6O and £65 freely; if married, they get £7O and upwards, if the wife is handy at house work. Farm servants are still very scarce, get high wages, and are pretty stiff to deal with; they get £35, £4O, £45, and £52 easily. Boys and girls, almost children, got 75., Bs., and 9s. per week. Skilled labour get the highest quotations still. There is bound to be a reaction some day, and these lucky tradesmen would as well lay by for a rainy day. Shepherds are not easily got; I presume they are snug in their places for the winter. Day labourers are seemingly well employed, at Is. per hour for ordinary work.”