IMMIGRATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3521, 29 April 1872, Page 3

IMMIGRATION.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE LYTTELTON TIMES Sin,—lt is gratifying to me to observe your announcement that a very considerable number of nominated immigrants from England have been sent for by their friends out hero. This is us it should be. The Government and those who are promoting this movement arc conferring an incalculable benefit, not only on those they bring out but on the colony at large. Drunkards and dissolute persons from whatever cause are not likely to be sent for, neither are your Internationalists likely to be invited, as the sample we now have forbid all immigration. Let them do so by all means in the circle of their friends and sympathisers. They argue truly that there are too many of the class here already. Publish their argument widely, only be careful to put their own brand on it.

It is satisfactory also to see that Mr James Brogdcn is himself looking up the men who are really wanted, and is confident that he can obtain as many as the contractors require. The only drawback is in thinking of the folly of those who are contending for Is an hour as the price of their labour out here, objecting to work for less, and doing their utmost to prevent others taking work at a reasonable rate. It would be well if the Government could be advised to offer a free passage to the wife of every labourer sent out by Mr Brogden, and further that those who are unmarried should be encouraged to marry. Single women have free passages from this Government, and what becomes of them, obtained as they are at a great cost ? As soon as landed, they obtain situations almost at their own price, and in a few months’ time they get married. Give a free passage to the wife of every married man of that class, say I, and iuclude the child as well, should there he one. There never was a greater demand for servant girls than at present. It is notorious that for every girl announced to arrive by any ship, there are three or four mistresses waiting to solicit her services. The immigration officer can certify this. In to-day’s Press I see a letter on the labour question, tending greatly to mislead. By-the-by, how comes it that the Press should so chuckle over the defeat of this Government in attempting to lower the pay of the railway employes ? Is it a fact that the Press has a deep interest in the publichouses in town ? If so, I can easily understand the determined opposition made to any reduction in wages. About fifty hotels to be maintained in Christchurch regardless of all consequences, where, according to the Home Government calculation, ten would bo ample. In the letter referred to, signed “ Nuts to Crack,” the writer asserts “that never in the history of the colonies was the opportunity of obtaining skilled farm labour so remote as at the present time.” He goes on to show “ that the labour of ablebodied men throughout the whole of may be taken atJl2s 6d a week, that the beer supplied, value Is, and the extra money in haymaking and harvest, will bring the average up to 15s or 16s. “ Nuts” never made a greater mistake in his life. He assumes a high average and value of perquisites and wages inTiaymaking and harvest, according to Mr Denton, from Is 6d to 3s a week. Even were this granted, which it is not, as the day labourer is only paid for the time he can work, and in England a large deduction must be made for wet weather when he cannot work. This, I calculate, will bring down his average earnings to 12s, or nearly so. Again, “Nuts” forgets that the piecework in haymaking is no better paid than the ordinary time—true he gets a little more money for a week or two, but look at his hours, ordinary day, 12 hours, less one and-a-half hour for meals. Mowing, he works from 4or 5 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m., and cuts his two acres of clover at Is (id an acre, or one acre meadow grass at 3s. Looking at the labour, I have always considered that the workmen get nothing extra by haymaking. Being the only work to do at that season, the labourer is more dependent than at any other in the summer time. The price of beef and mutton, according to “ Nuts,” makes no difference to the farm labourer. True, in one sense, as he gets but little of them ; but the high price of these puts up the price of food of all kinds, as seen at this time. Pork and Hour, on which the labourer feeds, according to “ Nuts,” never wore lower. My last papers tell me that wheat is Ss a bushel, and pork 7d and 8d a lb. Beef and mutton, 9d to Is per lb. No, no. Pork, as well as beef and mutton, must be excluded from the labourer’s diet. Now, I can shew from a Midland paper just to hand, not what the agricultural labourers are getting, but what they are asking for. On Feb. 3, a public meeting was held at Ilaglcy village, close to Lord Lyttelton’s door, of men from Pedmore, Hagley, Broom, Churchill, Clent, Cooklcy, Wolverly and Kinver districts, to consider the best means of obtaining a higher rate of wages. It is too long to give the entire report, though it is at your service if you wish it. It appears that the wages asked for were 2s Gd a day, hut nowhere in those districts was it obtained. Some employers were reported to have said “ that when the men could work 12 hours aday, they should not object.” Others, “ that they must raise the rents of cottages if they did so.” Some flatly refused. Others said “ that the men must go elsewhere to get 2s 6d.” In no instance had the demand been complied with. Of course the poor halfstarved men resolved to try on in hope. Now this is a good neighbourhood for pay, close to coal mines, iron works, &c., where the highest rate of wages usually prevails—from 6d to 9d a-day more than in South Warwickshire. Sir, had the agent of New Zealand appeared at that meeting, and narrated facts as they exist here as to food, wages, work, climate, and many other particulars, all advantageous to the working man, is it too much to assert that at this very meeting he might have got 100 immigrants f Ino more doub.t it than I doubt my own existauce. Sir, do not libel the best workmen in the world with the taunt of degeneracy, and so forth. They have not degenerated. They are oppressed indeed by circumstances from which, unaided, they cannot escape; but, helped by Now Zealand, a few thousands of those for whom my heart bleeds, would most gladly hew your wood and draw your water. Your obedient servant, ANGLO-SAXON.