The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 10, 12 January 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1874.

From all parls of New Zealaud thero rises a cry for more labor. Industries are languishing, agricultural pursuits aro not carried on with thafc vigor by which they should be distinguished, or on so large a scale as could be desired, and public works are in some places almost at a standstill because men are not to be obtained. It is true that shiploads of immigrants aro frequently arriving at some of the porte, but the two or three hundred souls of which each consists are but as a drop in a bucket, for every one of them is engaged as soon as landed, and still more are wanted. Hitherto, we have refrained from advocating the importation of immigrants into NelsoD, thinking that it might be better to wait until money was available for public works which, while they would afford employment for a number of hands, would, as they progressed, open up country fit for settlement, but no one can now spend a day in the country districts without ascertaining the great demand there i 6 for laborers in the harvest fields, while in the town the complaint is frequently heard that it is impossible to gt?fc men to work in the gardens and grounds of those who aro fortunate enough to possesa them. With regard to domestic servants the same inconvenience is experienced, and mauy a mistress of a house, who is able and willing to pay any reasonable sum for the assistanco she so urgently needs, is compelled to do the work herself. These are facts thafc cannot be got over. It ia not a question bearing upon the rate of wages bufc one involving the execution or non-execution of works both public and private. With the present year's experience before him, the farmer will hesitate about cropping his laud next season, and contractors for thoso public works which wo hopo to sco entered upon in the course of a few months will be shy of binding themselves to undertakings while the prospects of their ability to carry them out are so doubtful. The system of /nominated immigration is the one that we should like to see adopted in this province, but;, in the event of its not being extensively taken advantage of, there can be little doubt that a moderate shipment by tbe Agent-General of both men and women to Nelsou would be acceptable to the residents here, and advantageous to the immigrants themselves, tho whole of whom, if they were wellconducted, respectable people, and not afraid of hard work, would readily meet with engagements.