AVERAGE RATE OF WAGES IN THE COLONY.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2066, 6 November 1879, Page 3

AVERAGE RATE OF WAGES IN THE COLONY.

The following abbreviated statement of the average rate of wages per week paid in the different Provincial districts whore mining for gold is an established industry, taken from the report on the goldfields of New Zealand laid on the table of the House of Eeprescntativcs, gives a fair insight into the state of the labour market on goldfields ; and, as many of the mining districts have _ long ago assumed the .appearance of ordinary settlements, the figures, in the absence of other official information, supply a tolerably fair guide to the state of the labor market 'in general, It will be seen that the rates arc but slightly affected by circumstances, and while one class gets highly paid in the North, and only moderately in the South, another experiences the reverse. Auckland,— Engineers £3 to £6 ; engine drivers, £2 10s to £3 ; stokers, £2 2s to £2 10s; blacksmiths and carpenters, £3 II to £3 ; miners, £2 2s to £2 10s ; labourers, £1 16s to £2 2s ; boys, 10s to 20s ; agricultural labourers, £1 16 to £2 8s ; domestic servants, 8s to 18s.

Maklbohougii. Engineers, £4; miners, 15s to £3; laborers, £2 14s ; boys, £2 to £2 ss. Nelson —Engineers £3 10s to £G, engine drivers, £3 to £1; stokers, £2 10s to £4; blacksmiths and carpenters, £3 to £5 ; miners, 15s to £3 ; laborers, £2 8s to £4; boys, 18s to 30s; agricultural laborers, £1 to £3 ; domestic servants, 12 to 30. Westland.—Engineers, £6 ; enginedrivers, £4; blacksmiths, £5 to £4 10s ; carpenters, £4 to £4 IGs ; miners, £3 to £4 12s; laborers £3 ; boys, 10s to 30s ; agricultural laborers, £2 to £3; domestic servants, 15 s to 30s. Otago —Engineers, £4 to £o ; engine* drivers, £3 to £4; stokers, £2 10s. to £3; blacksmiths, £2 5 s to £4; carpenters, £3 to £4 10s ; miners, £2 8s to £3; laborers, £1 2s to £2 10s ; boys, 15s to 30s; agricultural £2 8s; domestic servants, 10s to 20s. It will be understood that these rates do not include board except in the case of domestic servants. —Dunedin Star.