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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4354, 4 March 1875, Page 2

The want of labor is keenly felt in Auckland and Otago, notwithstanding the large influx of population. In the former province, the local newspapers complain that the progress of the public works is impeded on account of the .scarcity of pick-and-shovel-men, and the Dunedin papers are not behind their Northern contemporaries in their complaints on the same head. Judging by recent indications, we should say that the demand for labor would steadily increase. The opening of the Ohinemuri goldfield will have a very decided influence on the labor market, more especially as the reports from the Prospectors’ claim, on the first day’s working, are calculated to create confidence in the paying character of the field. At all events,_ there is suflioient inducement to draw off a considerable number of working men, the excitement of gold-mining being alwavs a powerful incentive in that direction.

But farming operations are also seriously interfered with by the want of competent farm laborers.: No doubt very considerable effort is being made by the agents of the colony, and the special agent for Otago, to supply this deficiency, but the want is so pressing, and wide-felt that we fear the settlers will have their operations for next season seriously interfered with. Not alone,;, however, is the want of farm laborers and pick-and-shovel-men felt; skilled labor is' everywhere at a premium, and our Dunedin contemporaries are very explicit in stating this fact. . We can hardly expect to have any sufficient relief from the adjoining Australian colonies, although the rates of wages in Now Zealand as a rule are higher than those in Victoria and New South Wales, but when men have made a home in any colony they do; not care to break it up. iWe must, therefore, look to the mother country to supply skilled and unskilled labor ; and we trust the Hon. Commissioner for Immigration will not fail to impress this fact upon the Home agents. The speedy completion of : the publicworks, and the expenditure of money by private persons, or associations of on permanent improvements in the colony,’ depend bn : keeping up a supply of suitable labor. Should, the supply fall off, there will be very considerablepressure felt in every department,—public arid private, which is dependant upon labor. In this connection, we need hardly mention the continued want of females for domestic service. It is: general and increasing.'' The Government should, therefore, do what they possibly can to relieve the- pressure - under which nearly every household in the colony labors :in this regard. Settlement is extending on all sides; population and wealth-are increasing; it 1 is,’ therefore, most essential that the labor supply should be kept up. Past experience proves that immigration can hardly be Overdone ; .what is wanted is. the right class of people, and that once guaranteed we cannot have, too many of them. •