The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1911. AUSTRALIA'S DEARTH OF WORKERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 15 August 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1911. AUSTRALIA'S DEARTH OF WORKERS.

o Many of the leading Australian journals comment freely on the dearth of labour in the Commonwealth in almost all branches of industry, the Sydney “Telegraph” remarking, in its issue of August 9th, that “there is a deplorable shortage of workers in practically every kind of employment—in the trade as well as in the domestic and rural industries—for "skilled and unskilled labour.” Putting the case very fairly the “Telegraph” continues: That wo need artisans is beyond doubt, and that we could got them from Groat Britain in “unlimited numbers” and of a good class is equally certain, according to our correspondent if the handicap of tire fare were reduced. The artisan who can afford £5 for his fare to America cannot risk the £l6 or £l7 which it will cost him to make the longer voyage to Australia, with the prospect, of having to wait months before lie can save sufficient money to bring out his family. Nor is this the only drawback. Although the legislative restrictions have been somewhat eased, trade unionists on this side still senselessly baulk immigration of iheir fellow-workers whenever they can, unable or unwilling to see that the bigger a busy population becomes the more prosperous arc all its units; and their opposition c formidable enough to deter employers who otherwise would gladly assist immigrant artisans and at the same lime pay them full union wages hero. There is no question of cheap labour or of labour that would be dangerous t a unionism, hut only one of obtaining tlm hands that are indispensable il the work of progressive Australia is l-> be done.