THE LABOR MARKET IN QUEENS LAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5278, 23 February 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LABOR MARKET IN QUEENS LAND.

(From the Queenslander, Feb. 2.)

The present. condition of the labor market seems to indicate the probability of,a deficient supply, as the newly authorised railway works are fairly entered upon. It:will be remembered that some. few months ago complaints were pretty general of scarcity, of employment; The .depressing effect of ; the drought was seen in a contraction of industry, in farmiug pursuits especially;! and. immigrants arriving at the'same time in numbers, above the average, the unemployed class .was daily becoming more numerous, exciting apprehensions regarding the immediate future. But circumstances have', changed, for, although the , effect of the drought is still manifest to a disastrous extent, but, few men are now out of employment.' This is partly, explained by the fluctuations in the stream of, population into the colony. 'We find that the total number of immigrants introduced, during, fast year was,about 5600, or some 600, more than the average of late years.' But the . influx was most marked during, the nine months ending with October, the numbers received during the last, quarter of the" year having been comparatively small. This diminished rate has continued through January of tie present year, and labor is showing evident signs'of scarcity just as several large railway contracts are on the eve of commenceThe increased loan expenditure during last year has doubtless contributed somewhat to this result, and as there will. this .year be a still further increase in the expenditure consequent on the public works to which the" colony-is committed, it may be assumed that, all "other things being equal, the labor supply' will not adequately’meet the demand, unless measures be promptly adopted to augment the immigration of people suited to the require-’ ments of the country. Instructions have, :we believe, been sent to the Agent-General of' the colony in London to take measures for the despatch of a: larger number of immigrants ; but'it is by no means certain that the numbers of the right 'sort can be considerably augmented, and we need hardly remark that immigrants of an unsuitable class will be a burden to the colony instead of a benefit.