THE LABOUR MARKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LX, Issue 7050, 3 October 1883, Page 5

THE LABOUR MARKET.

TO IHB KDITOB. ; v Sib,— 22B ini migrant* for Wellington, 29u for Auckland, 280 for Port Chalmers, hare left England. Such was the news that was telegraphed from Wellington on Saturday and 1 venture to say that many will read it with anything but pleasurable surprise. What sort of policy is it for a Government to be forced to find work for the unemployed, and yet to send Home for more ? Is it not a fact that in every town in the Colony there are crowds of able and willing men seeking employment, which they cannot find ? And yet the Government tend for more. When the Grey Government imported immigrants during a time of depression, who were so indignant as the members cf the present Government? And yet now they do the very same thing. The Grey Government came to an end soon after the arrival of the immigrants they imported; can the same thing bs going to happen to the Atkinson Ministry ? “ 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished”; for whet little legislation there has been for the last few rears has been for the benefit of the well-to-do only. The importation of immigrants now can only be for the benefit of such employers of labour as are satisfied with getting such labour at a price that will leave them ample profits, but who care little to enquire how their workmen live on starvation wages. Thera are thousands seeking employment now here, and it must be comforting to them to think that every ounce of tea, every pound of sugar, and in feet every necessity of life they find it so difficult to procure, is taxed to pay interest on money borrowed to bring others from Home to reader employment more difficult to find. It is wellknown that many, very many, of the best class of colonists packed up their traps and fled to neighbouring Colonies, end bow many would do the same thing if they had the means ? ■ If things do not change here soon the distress will rival that of the Hast End of London, but by that lime the friends cf Atkinson and Company will have taken advantage of labour at starvation wages and will have gone to other climes to enjoy the wealth thus obtained. The Atkinson finance has scared capital from the Colony, and prevented it being brought here, and now it appears as if the capital now here not being sufficient to find employment for the workman, the Colony is to be inundated with fresh arrivals to add to the distress. I trust some steps will be takes to convince our sapient Government chat until a revival takes place it is cruel to indues immigrants to come here, an I an act of injustice te those who are hero, but who are UNEMPLOYED. Christchurch, Oct. 1.