Scarcity of Labour.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 84, 15 March 1883, Page 2

Scarcity of Labour.

(Wellington Paper.) One of the- leading tradesmen j and most substantial citizens of Wellington, I informs us that there are -very "erroneous i notions current among some self-con* stituted «» working men's ?■• friends^" respecting- the -nature of -the present demand for labour. Our informant tells us that at the present time labor is very difficult- to obtain. He lately tried to get: a' few men for- bash: wdrk in the Manawatu district, and finding he could not get them anywhere, arranged with a small contractor, who .picked them up one: by one, charging extreme rates for their services, and himself paying the men. 9s a day each. We have been further told by ;the gentleman referred to,; that a- little, while back he made enquiry at Feilding about some men for another job,- and was told by those who were themselves working men in regular employment, that there were none to be had, that the only persons to be got were publichouse loafers, who would not move froiii bhe hotels as long as they could pay for a little more beer. Working men themselves also expressed the opinion that it would be better that immigration should be resumed, because then men with capital would begin big jobs, and there would be a constant demand for labor.