OTAGO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 344, 5 March 1859, Page 3

OTAGO.

Scarcity of Labour. — We bave been urged' to bring under the notice of the public the serious) evils which are about to result to the province from> the scarcity of labour. Already it appears tfiat there is a great difficulty in getting hands on the part of those who require them, and it is fully eoti-

(Ctmtinntd in Suppttmtmt.)

(Continued from third page of paper.") cipnted that this difficulty will be severely felt during the ensuing harvest. It has been suggested that the Government should apply some portion of the immigration fund towards the impoitation of labour from Melbourne, where it appears there are thousands out of employment. If a suitable peison could be sent up to select them, we might get a lew hundred laboureis fiom Melbourne in time for the harvest operations. We undeistand that in the minds of many there is an objection to the Government assisting immigiants excepting from the old country direct: it being taken for gi anted that they undergo a deterioiating piocess in going thiougli the neighbouring colonies. We apprehend, however, that this is a grand mistake, and that, as labourers, many immigrants are rather improved than otherwise by a residence in Victoria. We believe that such is the experience of employers heie. We hold that it is the duty ot the Government to take this matter up of its own accord, seeing that the public have it to thank that we shall not be receiving n continual stream of immigrants from home during the summer. It is the only way in which it can make amends fox its neglect. Should no action be taken by the Government, it will then devolve upon the employers of labour to see what pressure irom without can be biought to bear upon it.