THE SUPPLY OF AUSTRALIAN WOOL. [From the "Times," May 13.]

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 676, 6 October 1852, Page 3

THE SUPPLY OF AUSTRALIAN WOOL. [From the "Times," May 13.]

Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon a meeting o*" merchants, manufacturers, and other persons engaged in the woollen and worsted trades of the West Riding of Yorkshire was held in the rotunda of the Coloured Cloth- hall, Leeds, for the purpose of taking steps with respect to the supply of wool from the Australian colonies. Sir George Goodman, of Leeds, was called to the chair, and, among the persons present were some of the principals in the chief firms engaged in textile manufactures at Leeds, Bradford, Iluddersfield, and other towns. The feeling of the meeting was unanimously and very decidedly in favour of the Government taking immediate steps to send out a large number of emigrants, who would meet with remunerative employment in the Australian colonies as agricultural labourers, shepherds, &c, in consequence of many formerly engaged in such employments having gone to the gold diggings. The Chairman opened the proceedings by some judicious remarks on the importance of the matter they had met to con&ider, which concerned a vast number of persons at home, in the colonies, and abroad. He said that some important and interesting information would be given to the meeting by Captain Stanley Carr, who had been sent from Australia to this country to repz'esent what the condition of the colony was, how much room there was for emigrants to proceed there, and to try to induce the Government to forward with all speed an efficient scheme of emigration thereto. Captain Carr addressed the meeting at considerable length and in the course of his speech he showed that so vast a number of persons had left their ordinary employments and gone to the gold diggings, that there was some danger, if a large number of emigrants were not speedily sent out, of the supply of wool from Australia greatly falling off for the want of persons to attend to the flocks of sheep in that colony. Indeed, there had been some waste of wool for want of hands, but not to any great extent as yet. The colonists felt so much the importance of having a supply of honest, industrious persons — not transports, or convicts, persons tainted with crime — from the home country, that they had subscribed many thousands of pounds to promote efficient emigration. He regretted to say that the Government at home had not forwarded the views of the colonists as they deserved. lie was no alarmist, and did not think that the wools of Australia would be altogether neglected for the gold fields ,* but there was a want of hands, owing to so many persons having left their ordinary pm*suits for these fields, and many persons suffering for want of employment at home, might obtain remunerative labour for themselves, their wives, and families in the colonies, and thus benefit themselves and their fellow-countrymen, both in the dependencies and in the mother country. (Hear, hear.) He left it for the meeting to say what was the best step to be taken under the circumstances. lie did not come to dictate to the men of the West Hiding of Yorkshire, who doubtless knew the real merits of the case ; but he thought it would be well, if the meeting participated in his general views on the subject they had met to consider, that they should take steps to impress upon the Government the great importance of sending out a number of efficient emigrants during the ensuing two months. Mr. J. Brooke, of Honley, near Huddersfield expressed his concurrence in the views of Captain Carr, and moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. D. Lupton of Leeds, and carried unanimously :—: — " That a very large proportion of the wool in which the industry of the West Riding is employed is derived from the several Australian colonies; that the supply will inevitably be very seriously affected in consequence of the large transfer of labour from sheep-farming to goldgetting, unless effectual measure? can be taken in this country to render the surplus labour available to meet the probable deficiency." Mr. W. Willans, of Huddersfield ; Mr W. Forster, of Bradford ; Mr. Birchall. of Leeds ; Mr. N. P. Simes, of London ; Mr. Smith, Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Armitage, and others addressed the meeting, and, in the course of the discussion, it was suggested that a local society for promoting the objects of the meeting, by giving encouragement and assistance (by way of loan) to emigrants to Australia, should be commenced. Resolutions to the following effect were unanimously passed : — " That a deputation be appointed by this meeting to wait upon the Government to lay the case before them, and to request them promptly to adopt such measures as may appear calculated to promote an early and efficient supply of labour to Australia. " That the deputation be requested to confer with such persons in London as are more especially interested in the trade with Australia, with a view of securing their advice and co-operation." A very influential deputation was appointed, including persons in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax, Keighfey, Dewsbury, and Rochdale, to go to London and have an interview with the Colonial Secretary, and the two members for the West Riding and the members for the boroughs in the said riding are to be requested to accompany the deputation. The local association for promoting emigration was agreed to by a formal resolution, and Sir G. Goodman was unanimously elected its president. Votes of thanks to the chairman, the deputation, &c, closed the proceedings.