IMMIGRATION OF LABOUR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 5 November 1853, Page 5

IMMIGRATION OF LABOUR.

The Committee appointed at the public meeting held to consider the best means of obtaining an immigration of labour into this Province, avail themselves of this opportunity of communicating to the public the steps they have taken in discharge of the duty committed to them. Before determining on any plan of their own, the Committee considered it advisable to communicate with His Honor the Superintendent, for the purpose of ascertaining from him, whether the Government was in possession of any funds available for immigration, and if so, whether His Honor contemplated recommending liny measure on the subject to the Provincial

Council for its adoption. The Committee were favoured by a reply to the effect, that His Honor had been, and was at that time, in expectation of receivingl such information from the General Government as would enable him to lay before the Provincial Council a plan for the purpose of promoting an immigration oflabour into this Province, and that so soon as he was in a condition to do so, lie should lose no time in laying before the Provincial Council such a proposal as would probably meet the views of the Committee. The prospect of any measure on the part of the Government being thus uncertain and remote, the Committee proceeded next to advertise for applications from persons in need of labourers, for the purpose of ascertaining, with as much exactness as was possible, the number that would be sure to obtain immediate employment if induced to emigrate here. The Committee have to state that the applications in reply to their advertisement were not so numerous as to justify them in entering into any extensive and therefore costly undertaking. They desire however to express their conviction, that this result does not warrant the inference that labour is not greatly wanted. On the contrary, every day's experience proves that the Province is suffering great and serious loss from want of an adequate supply of labour. Deprived, however, of such public co-opera-tion and support as would justify them in entertaining any extensive scheme, which would necessarily involve a considerable outlay of money, the Committee resolved simply to advertise in the Sydney and Melbourne newspapers, and to publish handbills throughout those towns, setting forth the great advantages which this settlement offers to the industrious labourer of every description, and particularly to agricultural laborers, under the impression that if those advantages were widely promulgated, and duly authenticated, there might be numbers in those settlements who would be glad to avail themselves of them. With this view the Committee directed their attention to securing the agency of some respectable merchants in those cities, to whom reference might be made, and whose respectability should be a guarantee to the labouring classes there of the good faith of the advertisements, and of the accuracy and truthfulness of the statements put forth in them. And the Committee have the gratification of beingable to state, that through the assistance of Jas. Spowers, Esq., of the Union Bank, they have reasontoliope this agency will be undertaken by the highly respectable and influential firm of Westgarth, Ross, and Co. It still remains to make a similar appointment at Sydney, and the Committee invite the suggestions and assistance <)f any persons who may be able by personal acquaintance or influence there, to assist them in this part of their undertaking. The Committee have only further to state that these proceedings have involved some expenses, to defray which they ask the contributions of those who feel interested in a matter of such vital importance to the Province. The following sums have been received : — Sir T. Tancred, B.irt., 205.; Mr. J. Brittan, 10s. ; Mr. J. Hall, 10s.; Mr. R. Rhodes, 10s. ; Captain Westenr:i, 10-.; -Mr. J. Bealey, 10s.; Mr. S. Bealey, 10;.; and further contributions may be paid to J. Spowers, Esq., Bank, Lyttelton ; to Mr. Gould, Chiistchurch ; or to any of the undersigned members of the Committee:— Sir T. Tancred, Birt., Mr. J. Brittan, Mr. T. Cass, Mr. J. Bealey, Mr. S. Bealey, Mr. Packer, Mr. J. -Hall. Captain Westenra, Mr. Luck, Mr. Caulfield, Mr. Deans, Mr. Hart. Mr. Wsikefield, Mr. Fiicbard, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Barker, Mr. Tailored, and Dr. .Moore.