THE INFLUX OF LABOUR.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3205, 10 January 1893, Page 3

THE INFLUX OF LABOUR.

It is evident that certain sections of 111l'ress in New Zealand vfow will) any thing but upprnval the probable influx of large numbers of labouring men from the Australia!) colonic?, The Wellington Post FH.ysln the Australian colonies the Slate holds ont no such promise to the unemployed as here, and generally their requirements and their sufferings arc much less sympathetically regarded by politicians than in New Zealand. In these cii'cumstauccs the exodus from Melbourne and Sydney to New Zealand is entirely the result of the institution of little more than nominal passage rates between Australia and New Zealand, Passengers lire now taken for one pound sterling per head. Possibly but a few of the unemployed would bo able to find eveu this small sum; but the philanthropists of Melbourne and Sydney, and even the unsympathetic politicians, must be very dense if they do not recognise that the provision of. passages for New Zealand is a cheaper way of disposing of tlio unemployed than finding tlicm employment ur even permitting tlicm to die of sUrra! ton. They can scarcely be buried n.-ioii more cheaply than they can now be sent to New Zealand We shall not be surprised at the Australian steamers bringing here thousands instead of hundreds of men very soon. Unless some economical means cheeking pauper immigration into this country from the neighbouring colonies is adopted, the prospect is appalling." The Mararoa arrived at Wellington from Sydney at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, after a smooth passage of tjjiree days 15 hours. She brought 105 saloon passengers and 197 in the steerage. The majority of the iattir are in search of work, and from enquiries on board, it was ascertained that vessels leaving for New Zealand arc rushed by unemployed, anxious to work their passage to. this ; colony, with a view of securing employment. One and all give a doleful account of the labour market in the other co'onics,

Upon the same subject nn Auckland contemporary says: Although the steamship companies are bringing over a number of passengers from the Australian colonics, at low rates ot passage money, who think they have a better chance of getting employment in. this colony than in the congested labour market of Sydney and Melbourne, they are exercising some degree of caution. Under the Imbecile Passengers Act, any passenger who may apply for relief at a Charitable Aid Board within fourteen days after arrival in the colony, renders the captain of the ship or its owners liable for' importing a pauper. In America the laiv is said to be still more striugent-a period of liability extending .to a twelvemonth, Some of the members of the Auckland Charitable Aid Hoard are looking up the enactments on the subject, with a view to the law against the importation of destitute persons being enforced.