IMMIGRATION.

Southland Times, Issue 672, 20 May 1867, Page 2

IMMIGRATION.

v The. subject of Immigration to, the people of Southland is . a most interesting one. There is scarcely any topic that assumes such importance or that should so warmly enlist the sympathies of the people , than 'the consideration. lof>v this question. .The peculiar construction of New Zealand society points to the desirability—nay, the urgent necessity — of encouraging the' 'introduction of immigrants, both male - and^ female, in order to fill up the gaps in the labor market, arising from -.the discovery of new gold- v fields. In a settled community like Southland, where' the" "advantage of obtaining a regular supply of labor 1 becomes an actual necessity to enable the various industries constantly springing, up to be properly developed, the import? ance attached to this subject cannot, be over-estimated. Most of us are conversant witn the fluctuatioua continually occurring in the labor market- — the difficulty experienced in obtaining labor at even highly remuiierative wages, and the consequent disappointment and pecuniary loss that employers are subject to. This state of things in a great measure arises from 'the: [existence of attractive goldfields in neighboring provinces j yet, it is a fallacy to imagine that, labor is more highly- paid iwhere a gbldfield exists than in settled districts. We venture to assert that the average rate of wages is much higher in Southland than on the West Coast — that the laboring population here, taking the year round, are in a- much better condition than in any other part of the colony, but 'the difficulty we complain of 'is in' obtaining a regular supply. An Otago contemporary/lately writing on this "sub- ~ ject, pertinently demonstrates certain illusions of the value of labor. He says :— " An absurd cry has been ' raised;' by a certain section of the people, thafT the desire for the resumption of immigration is r dictated by a wish to reduce wages. The fallacy of this has been more than once shown in this journal. A continuQUS stream of immigration is the best guarantee jfor- continued employment at - good wages. Assume it true that a great number of every class of tradesmen come "in with the immigrants, the preparation for the habitation and subsistence of those that have arrived, and of those that are coming, keeps their labor in perpetual demand. Nothing ever proved so detrimental to the interests of those who live by labor in Victoria, as the cessation of immigration. It has been the fate of that splendid Colony to have been made the test ground of all the obsolete theories of by-gone days." The natural law of supply and demand, which regulates the labor market in other countries, -is here unknown. Take for example the case qf some of the agricultural districts. Labor has been so scarce, as in some instances to cause serious inconvenience to the farmer, and even when obtained it has been so very high as to discourage the efforts of the producer to continue his operations. The same rule equally applies to other ; branches of industry. Again, the want qf female servants is severely felt. These most necessary adjuncts to social comfort are Jiardly - obtainable except at preposterously high prices, and in the case of Inyercargill, instead of the servant seek- ; ing a mistress — the latter is obliged humbly to solicit the services of a servant. Such a Btate of things should be alteredj and this can easily be" done if action is taken by the people instead of solelytrusting to the Government to take the initiative. What already has been done, has been, no doubt, praiseworthy, but we. very much doubt if the publication of a pamphlet— no matter how highly instructive on the subject of Southland's capabilities — will induce a stream of immigration to this Province. We must look in another direction, and be prepared in a practical manner to show our desire to resume immigration. ; The Government can do a good deal, but they cannot do all ; they can supplement funds raised by the people, but tjhey cannot undertake solely to defray the expease of introducing immigrants. With, this object in view, a" sum of money, no doubt, could be raiaetl, and if only a thousand pounds were obtained, and*judiciously -spent in bringing out a desirable class of oeople, the direct benefit to the cpmmuaity would amply repay thQ outlay., ; > "-■■ ' 1