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Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 42, 21 January 1879, Page 2

Tho scarcity of labour in thii County has been repeatedly referred to, and threatens to become, a most serious matter. Oh Wednesday last, tenders were oponed for a largo number of works in different parts of the„Ooiinty but. in several instances, owmg^to the high prices demanded, the tenders -were declined; Phils': in the instances in which tenders were accepted, the prices were abovo the average. - This- matter of the scarcity of labour is becoming most serious. It will be remembered that seme t'me ago Mr Gower moved a resolution in the Council, asking the Government to send one thousand labourers into the County during the present season. The request met with scant couttesy at the hands of the Immigration Department, a curt reply being received to the effect that the Government did not propose to import duringthis season more immigrants than those already ordered. The absolute dearth of labour, high prices consequently ruling, and the strong probability of labour becoming even more expensive than atgpresent, are all reasons why the Government should reconsider tjaeir decision. The rapid development of the district- demands as -full* and ample a. supply of labour. as ican -possibly be obtained. The system of feeding the towns only with immigrants is a bad policy. We should very much like to see $ return of the number of immigrants sont to this district during the last few years. It would be found, we are convinced, utterly disproportionate to the number who have been retained in Wellington. Yet, if the couutry districts are made prosperous, the town 3 are sure to grow. The thousand immigrants asked for could be at once absorbed in this district.