New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4128, 13 June 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1874.

The Agricultural Laborers’ Union, for whifch Mr. Arch has been the accredited agent to Canada, as Mr. Holloway has been to New Zealand, proposes to send away 100,000 laborers from England in order that they may improve their own position, and, by removing, make it better for those who remain by causing an advance in their wages through the greater scarcity of labor created. In the migration of so large a population we in New Zealand who have been bidding so high for immigrants are very much interested, as grounds exist for believing that a very considerable proportion of the laborers will lind their way to this Colony. The wisdom of tlio managers of the Union in sending an agent to both Canada and New Zealand cannot bo questioned, and Mr. Holloway and Mr. Arch will, when thoy compare notes of matters that have come under their observation in tho two countries to which they have been despatched, be able to supply information that will bo both valuablo and satisfactory to the largo class of employes on whose behalf their services were retained. The most valuablo portion of their report will be that portion of it which is of a comparative nature, setting forth to which country they would advise the attention of emigrants to be directed. What this will be may be predicated to a very considerable extent by information which is already to hand. The managers of the Union will have three distinct branches of the subject to decide upon. There is tho question of funds with which to export 100,000 persons, the wages these are likely to obtain on their arrival, and the suitability of the climate that they will find. We are aware that Mr. Holloway thinks one great feature in his mission to be that he should determine whether there exists in this Colony the opportunity for every one of liis confreres to become tho proprietor of a small section of land, the produce of which will support himself and liis family. Really, he will find that this has very little to do with the question at issue. Mr. Arch’s mission to Canada has been described by very well informed authorities at homo as a failure, because ho held this idea in too great prominence. Tho truth is that even if the laborers had capital on their arrival here or in Canada, it is better that they should work for wages until they become accustomed to the state of things and the specialties they find in their now homes. What Mr. Holloway should find out, is, in which country tho careful laborer could most quickly save one or two hundred pounds with which to commence as a farmer.

The managers of the Union are confronted in the first instance with the question of funds with which to pay the passages of tho one hundred thousand laborers. Tho price of a steerage passage from Liverpool to Canada is £G os., and this with other expenses of transport, outfit, &c., would probably be swelled to £7 10s. They would require £750,000 for merely the heads of families—a sum that they do not possess and cannot raiso. Tho Canadian Government would doubtless assist them to an extent, but it will not import emigrants in the liberal manner that the New Zealand Government has done. Tho American Government on the other hand will do nothing, for obvious reasons. Nor, really, has that of Canada tho same reason for acting as the New Zealand Government had. During 1872, about 42,000 persons did emigrate to Canada. Tho Government has caused an inquiry to bo instituted as to how many laborers could bo absorbed in the Dominion without depressing the labor market, and the estimate returned is that about 185,000 might bo imported. Mr. Arch, therefore, need not fear that his 100,000 will be buoyed with false expectations as to the remuneration they will receive on their arrival. But then arises the all-important question, what is the rato of wages ? These we find from a carefully-compiled tablo that arrived from England by the last mail to bo in Canada, from 10s. to 20s. por week, with board and lodging, for agricultural laborers, and for females from 4s. to 10s. But then there is a drawback to be taken into account. Tho laborer must expect to work for the farmer in the summer, and tho lumber-dealer in tho winter, with the strong probability of an unemployed intorval. In the States, as wc havo recently shown, his position would bo worso. The average wago there of a laborer is 10s. per week, with board ; without, Gs. per diom in summer, and 4s. Gd. in winter. Female servants obtain from Bs. to 10s. per week. In Canada, it is calculated that a man with careful habits, might save £IOO in three or four yoars and commence farming on his own account. In tho Stato of Massachusetts, a report of tho Statistical Bureau has recently been published, in which it is elaborately argued that the remuneration of an American laborer will not pormit him to accumulate capital, the interest upon which would allow him to give up work whon ho should bo no longer fitted for it. Last of all, there is the climate to bo considered. Canadian winters are very severo, and no laborer ought to think of arriving tlicro in tho autumn. Practically, tliero aro but four months in tho year in which laborers should think of going to Canada—in tho spring, and tho commencement of summer.

Those who go must expect to require very much warmer clothing in winter than they had in England, and this is about 25 per cent, dearer. After considering these figures, which are those that will bo • supplied by Mr. Arch, and after perusing Mr. Holloway’s report, we cannot suppose that the managers will consider that the visit of the latter gentleman has been made in vain. Wages, to start with, are much higher in tho Colony than they are in Canada, and their purchasing power is very much greater. The tost of this would bo to show how many hours’ labor a man would havo to give in both countries to purchase a given quantity of articles of daily use in a family. Were tliis possible, we believe it would be found that in reality wages here are fifty per cent. higher than they are there. Again, there is literally no comparison between the climates of the two countries. Here it is more temperate and equable than in England ; there it is more rigorous. That tho soil is more fertile is proved by the average yield of grain per acre being much greater in tho Colony than in tho Dominion.And in respect to the cost of transporting a large body of emigrants from one country to another, no Government has been more liberal than that of New Zealand. Notwithstanding that tho price of land is higher hero than there, the laborers have the opportunity of sooner becoming capitalists and freeholders. And without depreciating the future of Canada, we may remark that tho pirosperity of New Zealand is assured. In the opnnion of loading politicians and merchants in both Melbourne and Sydney, this Colony will, at no very distant p>eriod, be the p>remier one in the Australian group.