THE Manawatu Times. wEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 152, 10 August 1881, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1881. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

"W4rdsoP» things, ma ft drop of iak falling like titw upon a thought, produces that which, makes .thousands, perhaps millions think."

Altjiongji, ,;n,o doubt; the result may be the means of inconveniencing some oi our settlers, we consider it a most' cheering sign that labor iB scarcein. ithe district, proving as it necessarily does that all are nrofit- ! ably;em.ployed. . The picture is the more pleasing when put m contrast with that to be seen m other parts of the .Colony,:, bu.t ! especially, m the South Island. In the once prosperous provinces of Otago and Can--terHiry, not only has there been a demand for work, but a cry for bread m At present made, and the G.oyernmont arq liei.ifg petilignecl to send to J^Tew B'duth Wales tire "aurpl us work-' ing population which is at present unable; to^ebtainjemployment m this Colon/. _Tht\re : xaji rbfe no floubt about it that much of the misery, privation, and idleness unhappily cx"irfing'fLt tho) present time, is entirely OKing to the stupid reluctanco exhibited br cortaiu classes to quit the cities and larger cent cos of population. Jt is only m. the towns where the wail of want i 3 heard or, the lack of employment is known. In the country, on the contrary, tho experience is the reverse, and it is the employers and'no.t the employed who are the mppliantß, as no man who, is willing to work need "be without a job. We know of several instances m. which the owners of land were willing to give as high as £2 an aci-^fo.rb.ushfallmg, but their tenders failed to elicit a response. As we before s'ated/»uch a; state jpf things is very Batisfactbry-fram one point of view, but certainly not from all. The settler-mtißthave his bu»h down, or he is thrown back a year, and consequently hi* land becomes utterly valucles't'dOTihg'th'at time, and it is not only to his benefit, but to thatof the community that th« work of Bettlemeut should steadily advance.

We have never been an advocate for lowering the wage nor flooding the labor market, for on the permanent employment of the working class depends the prosperity of a community, but it is just as great an evil to have too little of a commodity as to be burdened with an overdose.