Turning the Corner.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5577, 24 September 1889, Page 2

Turning the Corner.

The Wellington Times has the following : — The total number of unemployed now iv the colony is 237, which is less than one-third of the number on the Ist of October last. It was then 771, anil was gradually reduced during the spring and summer months until in February the number ranged from 200 up to 300. A very great reduction may reasonably be expected to take place during the next few months. Probably the greatest cause is the improved condition of the colony and a consequently largely increased demand for labor. The, to us, novel position we in New Zealand have to face now is the probable scarcity of labor during the summer months. The present is ordinarily about the worst time of year for laborers, but presently the demand for labor for harvesting and pastoral and agricultural pursuits generally will be very keen. If there are only 237 men unemployed and engaged in relief works, does it not follow that the supply of labor will be limited ? The Government's figures, of course, may not represent the actual number of men in the colony who are out of work, but ifc stands to reason that if there were unemployed in any numbers beyond those accounted for, their existence would soon be made known ; and as showing the real diminution which has taken place in the ranks of unemployed men, we believe that already the scarcity of labor is being felt in some of the country districts. The pleasant lesson to be learned from these facts is that there is work in Now Zealand, not only for the men who are in it, but also for those who have recently left it. It will be well for us if that is known and appreciated in Australia. For some years now New Zealand has been struggling against depression of the worst kind. The struggle has been a long and a, desperate one, but it is nearly over. The lane which has been so long has its turning like all other lanes, and we are now at the corner. A correspondent to the Auckland Star sends the following :— A friend of mine who went to Australia some year or two ago writes as follows : "Will you please send me another copy of the New Zealand Crown Lands Guide. We are seriously thinking of getting back to Auckland, as we are heartily sick of Australia. The last Guide you sent I forwarded to friends in Canada, who. tired of the long dreary Canadian winters, are anxious to tiy New Zealand. At one time it was scarcely possible to take up an English newspaper without seeing some disparaging remarks about New Zealand. We were told we were in a chronic state of bankruptcy ; our country was not worth living in, and all sorts of other unpleasant rejiorts were spread broadcast. Now-a-days a change has come over the scene. English newspapers are frequently found with pointed paragraphs praising New Zealand. From the Oban Times of August 3rd we take the following extract: — "In his recently-issued report on the colonies, Mr Patou places New Zealand first iv the list of places suitable as fields of emigration. He looks upon it as the pleasantest and best of all colonies for a man who wants to settle on ihe land, inasmuch as it possesses 'gold, coal, rich soil, good climate, well-kept bridges and roads, and a sufficient rainfall;' iv other words, almost everything that a country requires, and he does not doubt that with an increase of population the future of tha Colony is assured. He thinks that c farmer with L3OO or L4OO, especially if experienced in dairy Avork and having a family to assist him, may do well in New Zealand, and that there are also good openings fur fruit growing and market gardening. "