The workingman's advocate., 1870-04-16
TO BE CONTINUED.
The Rate Of Wages in Australia.

gives the following information relative to
the labor market in Victoria
During the last month the demand for
house servants, both for town and country,
has far exceeded the supply, and rates have
ruled correspOndingly high. In fact, very
little hiring has been done in this branch of
labor, servants preferring generally to re-
main out Of place until the holidays are
over The difficulty Of obtaining house
servants has Of late been so great that
in small families it is seriously considered
if It would not be better to do without
them altogether. Good servants for the
country are greatly wanted. First-class
married couples without children, can
command almost any Price, MS much as
E10O per annum having been given for a
6rst-class married couple lately. This, Of
course. includes board and lodging. Me-
chanics connected with the bailding trades
have been kept fully employed, the con-
tractors often finding il difficult to get o
supply of good wOrkmen. AS usual, at
this time Of the year. agricultural labor
ers are in great demand, and the supply is
very short. In some districts men for har-
vest work are getting as much as los
per day and their food, while in others the
rate is from 6s to Is per day. The fol-
lowing rates have been taken from the
largest and best establishments of their
kind in Melbourne, and where the work
is regular: For tradesmen in every case,
except where otherwise mentioned, the
days work is eight hours. For country
and bouse servants the average rate is
taken, as the last months rates are ex-
ceptional and not for permanency.- The
usual weekly rations allowed in Victoria,
are 10 ID to - lb of meat, (beef or NUT
toni, 10 ID of -four, 2 lb Of Of sugar, and
1 ID of tea. The following servants are
fed and lodged by their employers, recsiv-
ing rations as above Shepherds, first-class,
ESQ to 945 per annum butkeepers, f25
to ESQ per annum lads, for the country,
los to l2s per week general farm labor
ers and station hands, 15s to 20s per
week; married couples, for out stations,
H40 to 955 per annum. The following
servants are fed and lodged with the en-
ployers' families Grooms, tor country,
2Os to 25s per week men cooks, for
hotels, Ell to GA per week female cooks,
940 to ESQ per annum married couples,
for country, first class, without incumber-
ance, from 965 to f85 per annum fe-
male house servants, for country, frst-class,
f35 to 945 per annum female house
servants, for country, second class, ESQ to
935 per annum laundresses, 935 to
f45 per annum nurse girls, for town,
f25 to f3O per annum. The following
wages for skilled laborers and other trades.
men are without rations, unless where
specially mentioned
Among stonemasons, bricklayers, plast-
erers, and carpenters, an arrangement has
been made with the employers that the rate
of wages shall be los per ay builders
labOrcrs. (hodmen), rs per day; pick and
shovel men, 6s per day.
good mea are scarce, and constant work is
to be had at the average Of from f3 to
f3 15s per week. In second-class estab-
lishments the average earnings are from
f2 los to f3. In factories, tailors, best
hands, average G2 los. Tailoresses can
earn az follows: Trouser and vest hands,
S0s per week coat hands, 35s pressers.
f2.
Clothing Mscbinists-Best, 30s per
week; ordinary, 2Os; shirtmakers, (ma-
chinists), girls, 12s Cd to lis; cutters,
l5s Sd to 30s; finishing. Is to Is per
dozen.
Bootmakers-In the best establish
ments, for bespoke work, the rates paid
are as follows: Wellingtons, las Sd !;
elastics, l2s closing, IS; riding boots,
back strap, 24s. In factories good
workmen can earn from 92 TO 42 15s per
week at sloop work. Ordinary hands
earn f2 per week.
Cabinetmakers-The best shops the
average earnings Of good tradesmen is l2s
per day and upwards, according to ability
poliehers, los to lis. In second-class
establishments and factories, first hands
make los per day, and for csbriole work,
rs; upholsterers, IS to los; polishers,
Ss 10 9s; sawmill hands. los to 12s per
day Of eight hours.
Ironfounders Smiths, &c.-Smiths are
paid per hour, and good men can earn on
an average, los to las per day; filters, 9s
10 12s; turner's, las; moulders, lis to
las; patternmakers, los to 1Ss; me-
,hanical engineers, 12s to 14s Shoeing-
smiths earn on an average e. los per
week of 10 hours per day.
Stevedore's Men-Lumpers and WOOL
towers are paid 12s per day; foremen,