WAGES IN VICTORIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3711, 14 January 1875, Page 3

WAGES IN VICTORIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

It is a favorite sophism—for it would be an abuse of language to call it an argument—with stump orators in Victoria that immigration | tends to bring down the rate of wages; and that the fewer the inhabitants of a large expanse of country, the more rapidly will those acquire wealth in it. New Zealand thinks otherwise, and is securing a steady influx of adult laborers, male and female, from Europe ; with what result to themselves, let the following figures, taken from the ‘ New Zealand Blue Book’ for 1873. and from the ‘ Victorian Year Book ’ for 1873, just issued by the Government statist, testify : -

Provisions, as a general rule, are rather cheaper in Now Zealand than in Victoria, although the difference in price is inconsiderable; but rents are lower, fuel is more accessible, and almost every article of wearing apparel is much more moderate in cost at Dunedin, for example, than in Melbourne.—‘Age. 1

“ Victoria. New Zealand. Farm laborer*, with board .. 15s to 20s per wk. 18s to 35s por syk. Pl' Ughmcn, doilSs to 20a do .... 20s to 40s do Keapo's, per acre, do .... 12s to 14b 17s to 20s Mowers, do, do 8s 6d to 5« 6d 7s to 20s Sh ph o rls, do LBO to L50 per an. L85 to L70por an. Stockkoepers, do LS5 to LBO do.... L63 to L63 do Sheepwarhers, do ' 15s to 25a per wk. 2lsto 42s per wk. Shearers, do .. 14s to 15s per lOOilos to 25s per 100 Masons 10s to Ils per day|8a to 20s per day Plasterers .... 10s d<>. 8a to 15s do Bricklayers .. 10s do 8s to 16a do Carpenters ... 8s to 11« do 8s to 14s do Blacks itlis.. 10s to 12s do .... 8a to 15s do Gen. laborers.. 6s to 7s do 8s to 12s do