The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1874.

Dunstan Times, Issue 622, 20 March 1874, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1874.

Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the PEN is MIOHTIKR than theawoßD.

The visit of Air. Holloway to the several agricultural and mining districts of the Province should enable him to form a pretty correct idea of the advantages we'have to induce immigrants from Great Britain select ing Otago as a place to make a home. The class represented by Air. Holloway—agricultural laborers—are without doubt in great demand, and there appears an unlimited field for their services. Men thoroughly acquainted with the working of a farm are exceedingly difficult to obtain, and we verily believe that the many com- : plaints that farming'does not pay is not because that industry is of a less remunerative nature than other branches of labor, but,'that it is less i perfectly understood than" most employment. We will presume that everyone who enters into the business of farming, understands something about it, but to find helpers, the farmer has to take what he ran get; men skilled in the]work are scarcely ever obtainable, and having to instruct every .fresh hand he employs, much valuable time is lost, and the farmer, although, paying a low price for his labor, finds his business anything butprofitable. It has always been our opinion that farming, if properly managed, is capable of paying as high a rate of wages as any other employment where muscle and sinew is required, and if this is not tho case, the calling is either much overdone, or those practising it, do not understand their business. Taking this district for instance, the prices for oats and barley these last two seasons should almost pay moderate wages, even, if the ground had been dug over with a spade—even wheat for fowl feed was imported at a cost of six and seven shillings per bushel, while vegetables and edible roots realised prices that, if obtained by the cottage gardener at home he would think his fortune made. It must not be understood that we mean by this, that there is an opening for a veiy large addition to the number of our farmers There certainly is room for more, but when once the limit of local supply is reached, then there is enough, any surplus must be so much waste. There is however no fear of this foi the pi'esent nor in the future. Did but our farming population understand their business, the necessities of supply and demand would be pretty evenly met, while that, which under an imperfect system of farming usually goes to waste, would be turned to profitable account. For the experienced agricultural laborer, we believe, the goldfields especially present considerable attractions; to such there is plenty of employment at high rates of wages, while as land can always he taken up under the deferred payment system, an industrious man if desirous of improving his condition by becoming bis owu employer} need not labor long to

attain the utmost of his desires iu that respect. In the neighborhood of the gold-fields, a farmer can -work on a much smaller scale than where he has to compete with large growers in what may te termed the purely agricultu ral districts—a varied produce is more suited to the circumstances of the lo cahty, and as the operations necessary to produce this can be extended over a greater potion of the'year, labor can be very economically expended, with this great advantage that, there exists a ready and convenient market for any and every kind of produce, small lots being more saleable than large parcels. Mr. Holloway, as a"practieal man will doubtless quickly observe [this, and we hope that those interested in the welfare of the gold-fields will not fail to point out to him how easily an industrious thoroughly acquainted with his business, may acquire a small farm upon which he may make a comfortable living for himself and family, besides, enjoy many social advantages, which he never -could obtain in a purely agricultural district. Of the mal-ad ministration of the Waste Lands we 4 will not say much. Under a better system, or had the lands been thrown open earlier, a large population wou!d_have be<n settled, where now there is none; as it is, there exists no doubt but that the Provincial Government have striven to do their best to make up for past mismanagement, while we will be charitable enough to suppose that, seeing the large influx of population into the Province, coupled with the desire ot those already resdcnt in it to remain, the necessity to provide them with the means of doing so, has not been lost sight of. The demand for land has been fairly'met by the throwing open of largo blocks in convenient localities, many more are doubtless wanted, and we should hope that each of the gold-fields’ districts will be able ! to obtain sufficient to meet their re- ! quire ments. The number of applica- i tions for sections iu blocks already ■ opened lias been loss (ban we expect- ; ed, but we fancy that intending occu- | piers think with us that, an evenly distributed agricultural population, i suitable to the necessities of the seve- j ral mining districts is preferable to herding all in one locality, overstock- \ ing some markets, while others are ! badly supplied.