THE LABOUR QUESTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 130, 4 August 1870, Page 6

THE LABOUR QUESTION.

In a recent issue we published the report on the petition of the unemployed. Some weeks ago circulars «yere forwarded to employers of labour all over the province, by the select committee appointed for that purpose. The evidence given by those parties has b.een published, and we purpose giving ia summary of it so far as it refers to the Tuapeka district. The questions submitted by the committee for answers were as follows : — 1. Are you an employer of labour ? To what extent ? In what capacity ? % Have you experienced difficulty in engaging suitable hands at any time, and especially within the last year? 3. Do you think the price of labour at present excessive, taking into consideration the value of produce, and the cost of the necessaries of life? 4. What is your opinion upon the subject of immigration, having regard to the interest of tho employers, and the conditions of the labouring class at present in the province ? 5. Are you aware of any industries which have been given up, or which are hindered from being developed by reason of a scarcity of labour at a reasonable rate of wages ? 6. Do you consider the general prosperity of the province would be advanced by the importation of labour at the present time, and if so, to what extent, and of what kind or class? EVIDENCE. W. D. Morrison, Lawrence: — I employ nine men in connection with my saw mill and timber business, at wages ranging from 14s. to 10s. per 4ay- In claims on Blue Spur we employ over 20 men, at lls. per day. I have frequently found it difficult to find suitable hands for bush and mining work within the last year — more so than at any previous period for the last &ye or six years. In my opinion there is no just proportion between the pre- i sent prices of labour and cost of living. Jn my opinion there is no surer means of benefiting those now in the Province, of all classes, than a steady and increasing flow of immigrants from Europe and America into this Province, which is only partially occupied, PiUd where the materials of wealth are in abundance, laying dormant, and capital leaving the Province. We some time ago suspended work in one of our claims, owing to the price of labour being too high at lls. per day, which 1 believe would give a good dividend were -wages Js. per day. I consider that the general prosperity of the Province would not only be greatly advanced, but altogether depends on the immediate importation of labour, which ought to be yearly increased, in some proportionate scale with the population of the Province, for years to come ; and I submit the following as the extent and kinds of labour most wanted: — 100. per month agricultural married men ; 100 per month miners, saavvies, carters, jobbers, and bushmen ; 50 per month of various mechanics ; 100 per month domestic female servants, from 16 to 26 years old, of firstclass character, &c. I beg to remark that the Government ought to study, in bringing out immigrants, that there are certain seasons of the year when hands are most wanted, and to have them landed in time for that demand ; and that the class of immigrants which generally come from neighbouring colonies are not of the best description. I have reason to hope that if a judicious importation of labourers is once commenced, the employers will take a deeper root in the country, and not as at present be looking for other fields of enterprise for their accumulated labour. John Cokmack, Blue Spur: — I usuallyemploy from 20 to 25 men in mining operations. From, the exceptional nature of the workings here, it is at all times difficult to obtain suitable hands. The price of labour, lls. for eight hours work, is the same as was given five years ago, and is excessively high, except for first-class hands. I consider that it is indispensably necessary for the interest of all parties that a steady flow of immigration be kept up, and assisted by the G-overnment. I consider that mining operations, particularly ground sluicing could be considerably and profitably extended, provided suitable labour could be obtained at a more reasonable rate of wages. I consider the prosperity of the Province would be advanced by the importation of suitable labour at the present time. The extent depends very much on the nature of the land laws and the class hitherto assisted by the Government are, I believe, as suitable, with few exceptions cm be induced to leave Britain. William Livingston, Blue Spur : —I employ 13 men gold digging. I believe the condition of the labouring class at present, in general, is better than their employers. In reply to No. 6— rNot competent to give an opinion to what extent. Working class, of single men and women. Messrs. Herbert & Co., Lawrence: —We employ 30 to 40 men, storemen, draymen, bushmen, sawyers, &c. Our ppinion is that immigration would benefit the employers of labour without injury to the labouring class at present in the Province. Within the last year the men employed at the steam saw mills, Tapanui," threatened to cease work if an advance of wages was not given them ; also, the expense of labour about the boiling down establishment has prevented us from .^BJ#£tting it and^ meat preserving

operations to the extent we would otherwise have done. In reply to question No. 6 — To what extent we are unable to say. Labouring class, male and female.

Messrs. Cable & Deummond, Waipori: — We employ station labourers, farm labourers, fencers, shepherds, and store assistants. We have found very great difficulty this last year to ongago suitable hands. Immigration is much needed. The goldfields would be better developed; flax would still pay provided labour were more plentiful and cheaper ; farming " might " be made to pay, also run-holding. In reply to No. 6 — The province would be advanced by the importation of labour to any extent — it can't be overdone. Mining, agricultural, and general labourers; in fact, any one that can work.

Petee Robertson, Lawrence : — I employ two ploughmen and one labourer, at an average of sixty pounds each per annum ; also one female servant at thirty pounds, besides my family of three sons. I find, and I believe it to be general, a great difficulty in - obtaining good female servants. Ido consider the present price of labour too high, taking into consideration the price of produce at present, and likely to be. My opinion on immigration is, that were one thousand good female servants landed at Dunedin within the next month, and willing to take from £25 to £30 per annum, they all would find employment ; that is, if they were the right class, but the general portion of those imported are only culls. I am aware that improvements are kept back from the present high price of labour, for any one that owns lands to the extent of 50 acres could well do with another labourer for every 50 acres, for the purpose of grubbing flax, manuka roots, filling up small gullies, draining, repairing fences, doing up the homestead and many other little jobs which would well repay the employer if he could find it at a reasonable rate,- but at tho present rate of wages all these small, although valuable improvements, are let alone. I do consider that the country would be benefited by a very largo immigration, and were the Government to give 200 acres of their gullies and spurs to every good working emigrant with a family, he being acquianted with farming, I would at once say give the land to him with six years to pay it. The country would be benefited, provided that some thousands could be tempted with the offer.

James Smith, Greenfield Station : — The following extract from a letter of Mr. Smith's also appears in the evidence: — I will just give you my experience for the last few months. During shearing this year I had only eight shearers, instead of fourteen, as formerly, and not a single shearer or other hand called during the whole shearing season — viz., three months. I had about three hundred and fifty acres of good crop, and was fortunate in getting five good men to join with my own ploughmen, my horses and ploughs standing idle meantime, to take the cutting by tender. Meantime I could not get another hand during the whole harvest. Consequently, had a heavy shake amongst the over-ripe grain, and a considerable portion stood in the stook for from six to seven weeks. I say nothing about the wages, which were exorbitant, because I could not get them for love or money. I had considerable difficulty in getting hands at thrashing time for thirty shillings per week, wet and dry. Several professing to look for work would not stop at that price. My neighbour, Mr. W. A. Murray, got men engaged at that figure, at Toko., and, as soon as he had steam up, they told him they wanted eight shillings per day and board. He had then to give them thirty-six shillings per week. I have been in want of ploughmen for the last four months, and am still, and cannot get them. I have had several meantime, who only stayed for two and three days; they want this, that, and the other, or they lift their swag and off, Living on the settlers like paupers, as they go along. In fact, I am sick and tired of the sort of men swagging about the coun-

try ; the one-half of them do not want work, the other half only want for two or three weeks, until they get enough to have a "jolly good drunk," as they cal^ it, and then loaf upon the settlers, cursing the country, and asserting that a -job cannot be got. I do not know whether this agrees with your own experience ; if it does, pray do try, when the question of labour from Home comes before the Council, to get as much money voted for that purpose as will bring out plenty really good hands. Meantime, if thousands of those swaggers leave the country it will be a blessing indeed ; for I assure you, finding them, after they have drunk their cheques, is a very heavy tax upon myself and others like me. Unless something is done, and that speedily, the country must collapse as an agricultural one.

A Return laid on the table of the House gives an estimated return of natives in the North Island, the total being 34,000. His Honour the Superintendent of Hawke's Bay has appointed no DeputySuperintendent during his absence at the sitting of the Assembly. The businesg of the province is conducted by telegraph.