The Globe. FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 963, 27 July 1877, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1877.

A largely attended meeting of artizans and other working-men was held in Dunedin on Friday evening last, to consider the present state of the labor market, and the action of the Government in importing from abroad rolling stock, steam boats, dredges, and other manufactures, required for the public service. A series of resolutions were passed, to the effect that the meeting would use every legitimate means to stop that importation, that it was an injustice to those who had been induced by the Government to emigrate on the assurance of finding constant employment, and unnecessary, as the work can be done in the colony, at no greater cost. With much that fell from the various speakers, we heartily agree. We are pleased to observe that no attempt was made to make this a political question. One speaker, indeed, hinted that if the Government failed to give them the relief they had a right to expect, the result would be that the working men of New Zealand, like those of Victoria, would organise themselves into a political body and, as the speaker pithily put it, “ help themselves.” "We sincerely hope that no such course will require to be taken.

The meeting wisely avoided raising the question of protection. Indeed, one one speaker, on behalf of the committee, expressly repudiated such an object, and maintained that their wishes could be attained without the imposition of protective duties. The contention of nearly all those who addressed the meeting was that when freightand commission,&e., were added to the English cost, nearly everything wanted in connection with our railways could be manufactured as cheaply in the colony as it could be imported. It seems to be generally admitted that at the present time considerable want and distress prevails in Auckland and Dunedin, and to some extent in Christchurch, owing to the scarcity of employment. Various causes have no doubt contributed to this, but certainly the Immigration policy has been one of them. At a cost of £1,000,000 sterling over 70,000 people have been added to the population of the colony since Sir Julius Vogel's scheme was inaugurated. An abornal state of things has been created. Till lately the Government have been very large employers of labour. They have competed in various ways with private enterprise, and it would be manifestly unjust to those whom they have induced to emigrate to return all at once to what may be regarded as their legitimate position. Till the labour which they have been the means of importing, and for a time employing, is absorbed in other directions, it is surely a wise policy to find remunerative employment for the working men —especially as they can do so at little or no cost to the colony. We have spent a million on immigration during the last few years, in the belief that it was a remunerative investment. It would surely be suicidal were we to allow our working population to drift into discontent, and finally to leave our shores for other fields, for the sake of a few thousand pounds. Hitherto we have been able to congratulate ourselves on the complete success of our immigration scheme. Till lately, employment has been plentiful, and the colony prosperous and contented. If our rulers are but wise in their generation they will take steps to prevent the organization of political bodies, similar to those which have brought such ruin upon the commerce of Victoria. If they comply with the reasonable and just demands of the Dunedin working men, we think this

end will be accomplished. Even if it costs the colony a few thousands, the money will be well spent; and may prevent an agitation which might result in tiie adoption of a Protective policy, and all the evil consequences which How from it.