The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 47
Average Wages in British Columbia
Average Wages in British Columbia.
Bookbinders | 14 s. a day |
Blacksmiths | 14 s. to 16 s. a day |
Bread and Biscuit Bakers | 8 l. to 9 l. a month, with board |
Butchers | 10 l. to 12 l. a month, with meat |
Bricklayers | 12 s. a day |
Carpenters and Joiners | 12 s. to 16 s. a day |
Cabinet-makers | 16 s. a day |
Coopers | 16 s. a day |
Carters with horse and cart | 20 s. a day |
Coachmen and grooms | 8 l. a month, and board |
Cooks | 6 l. to a month, and board |
Dairy-women | 6 l. to a month, and board |
Dressmakers and Milliners | 6 l. to a month, and board |
Farm Labourers | 6 l. to a month, and board (see p. 44.) |
Gardeners | 6 l. to a month, and board |
Household Servants | 4 l. to 5 l. a month, and board (see p. 23.) |
Labourers (day) | 10 s. a day |
Mechanics | 14 s. to 16 s. a day |
Masons | 14 s. to 16 s. a day |
Painters and Glaziers | 14 s. to 16 s. a day |
Plasterers | 14 s. to 16 s. a day |
Plumbers | 12 s. to 16 s. a day |
Policemen | 8 l. to 10 l. a month |
Shoemakers | 12 s. to 14 s. a day |
Stonemasons | 12 s. to 16 s. a day |
Saddlers | 10 s. to 12 s. a day |
Slaters and Shinglers | 12 s. to 14 s. a day |
Tanners | 12 s. to 16 s. a day |
Tailors | 12 s. to 14 s. a day |
Tinsmiths | 16 s. to 20 s. a day |
Wheelwrights | 16 s. a day |
These are the highest rates of wages in Vancouver Island, and the New Westminster district. In the interior of the Mainland, wages are higher still, and at the mines the wages of labourers reach 32 s. and 40 s. a day at times; but the mining season lasts only for a portion of the year. *
The wages in British Columbia are, therefore, attractive; but it must be clearly understood by the emigrant that the country is so young at present that the prospect of continuous day-by-day employment cannot be very confidently held out to a number of skilled artizans, or even to common labourers if numbered by thousands. The province has not at present the resources of a large settled population, whose varied wants multiply indefinitely the chances of employment. We want producers specially at this time—men of large and men of small capital—and we hope the employer and the labourer will come together.
The demand for labour is comparatively small, because there is not as yet sufficient capital to employ a very large number of labourers. When it is brought, the field of labour will be seen to be unbounded. The number of situations is increasing every month, and will be, of course, very considerable when the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway is begun. But it were best that no great "rush" of emigrants took place. The Agent-General will always be ready to give the best information which he possesses without any colouring. The country is sure to go a-head— the whole north-west of America is moving—but sound judgment dictates at present that British Columbia be peopled little by little. Any man with confidence in himself, however, may take his own course, and if the experience of other colonies may be a guide, such men, if ready for manual work at first, often "fall on their feet." A mixed emigration of employers and labourers is generally best for young countries.
The purchasing power of the above wages—the true test—is very great, as will be seen by comparing them with the prices of the common necessaries of life, and still more with the price of land. The climate, over a great part of the province, also is such as to enable a workman to work much out of doors both in summer and winter.
A thrifty man may lay past every day the price of an acre of land.
I invite every working maris attention to the following fact:—The labourer who puts his own labour into a piece of his own land in British Columbia, in reality pays himself the above high wages for farm labour, and he besides makes a home, and improves property which must rise steadily in value, and which up to 2500 dollars (500 l. English) cannot be touched for debt (see Homestead Act).
Many farm labourers in the province put their earnings into cattle, which are allowed to run with their employers' herds. These are protected from seizure from debt by the Cattle Exemption Act.
Nothing but ignorance and unthrift keeps men from saving money in order to settle in a land where labour can soon employ itself without asking leave of capital, and where a man can be his own employer and receive exactly all he earns, be the same less or more.
* Compare the above wages with the wages in the eastern portions of the Dominion, which are about as follows:
Agricultural labourers in Eastern Canada are paid from 251, to 30 l. a year, with board; and from 50 l. to 60 l. a year, without board.
Skilled farm hands are paid from 30 l. to 40 l. a year with board.
Common labourers receive from 5 s. to 6 s. a day, and find their own food.
Mechanics are paid from 6 s. to 16 s. a day.
The wages of female servants vary from 16 s. to 2 l. a month, with board; but higher rates are paid according to capacity, very common rates being from 24 s. to 32 s. a month.
Boys in situations receive from 16 s. to 2 l. a month, with board, according to age and capacity.