THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4654, 21 February 1894, Page 3

THE LABOUR PROBLEM.

New Zealand and Austnlia, Mr H. 0. J ones, (be secretary of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, bus addressed a letter to the secretary of the Queensland Trades Council, and the following extracts may interest our'readera:—ln penning Ibis letter to tho ramus Trades sod |abour Councils throughout Australia, iny Council feel that the tip has arrived when the true state of trade in tbiß cplony should bo known to those pn the other side who are seeking employment, For some time past a considerable ippreaße in the unemployed Arriving from various parts of Australia to this colony is apparent to those Who take an interest in the well-being of the working classes; and in the hope of preventing men from coming who have not the means of nuintaining themeolveß and their familiee for a lengthened period after'their arrival berefan endeavour was made to ascertain the exact stateof skilled and an- • jkilledlabourin thißcolony,andtoacer tain eitent with considerable success, The prospects in the country districts, so far as we can learn, do not apI. pear to be of a ranch brighter aspect. Coming of Wellington, we find a somewhat better state of things for the unskilled labourer j but even in (bis city, which at the present time is the most prosperous, tbe supply of unskilled labour exceeds tbe demand, indwebave our unemployed difficulty welt'ofi, as the bricklayer, the carpenter, the painter, tbe plumber, and (bo bootmaker are undergoing a time ■x of momentary depression, and num- / bora of these mechanics can be met / with at any time of tbe day seeking ' employment. But there is reason to believe that work under these heads will at no distant date be in fall swing. On the whole, Wellington, although not in a position to absorb any of tbe unemployed of Australia, stands in the front at present As V tbe minor parts of the colony, we could not expiess any decided opinion about, but taking the towns Its ad'tode*) there 1 does not seem to us ieaipn 'to b'ejievo' fhata betldr state of ibings exist' QnHjie wholo'we tbjnk that the' colony, although'in a fairly prosperous state, is not able to absorb tbe jarge numbers wlip are arriying here by every boat from Australia, and oar advice to those wljq are contemplating such a step is to weigh well tbe risks that inevitably must await them if they decide to throw their lot in with us. Having laid before you' a brief outlino as to tbo exact state of trade bore, wo trust you will, as requested at the beginning ot this letter, give it as much publicity! ; as possible, and in so doing you will , confer a boon on those unfortunates ' who are struggling against adversities

in Australia, and you will also oonfc a favour on those who are unliappil in tbo same position here.