THE LABOR FAMINE.

Evening Star, Issue 3379, 18 December 1873, Page 2

THE LABOR FAMINE.

With respect to the scarcity of labor in Canterbury, theLiittclton Ti //teasays : —“A correspondent at the Waimate informs us that labor is exceedingly scarce in that locality, Very few of the local hands will go into the shearing sheds at the present rates. The writer tried to obtain men to save a crop of rape seed, but, though terms were offered by which a pound a day could have been easily earned, not a single hand could be obtained. Another proof of the scarcity of labor in this Province is the fact that Mr E. G. Wright, railway contractor, has been compelled to again advertise in other Provinces for men. At the time that his laborers on the North line struck, Mr Wright inserted advertisements in the Auckland and other papers, by which means he succeeded in bringing something like two hundred into the Province, and he is now so short-handed and unable to obtain a proper supply here that he lias resorted to his former expedient, in the hope of similar success. ” —The 1 Vtstmi Star states, on reliable authority, that the saw-millers in the Riverton district will shortly raise the price of timber. The reasons for this steps are the great demand, the scarcity of labor, and a very natural desire on the part of the saw-millers to make hay while the sun shines.”