The lack of labor in the colonies was somewhat unexpected for Franz.
He had thought that with so many immigrants arriving, labor would be sufficient. However, the reality was a rude awakening, as most immigrants were gold prospectors, expecting them to settle into routine work was asking too much.
Everyone dreamed of striking it rich overnight, and unless those dreams were shattered, it was difficult to get them to settle down. Even those who did were unlikely to take up mining.
Franz wasn't concerned about the shortage of miners; that was the mine owners' problem. He trusted they would be creative in resolving the issue. If not, they could just dig slowly, there was no rush.
The primary purpose of immigration was to establish plantations and build an agricultural economy in the locality to supply raw materials and markets for domestic industrial and commercial production.
