Manawatu Standard (published daily.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29. 1884. THE EVIL AND ITS REMEDY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 129, 30 April 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (published daily.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29. 1884. THE EVIL AND ITS REMEDY.

It docs not appear that the recent speeches from the political leaders have done much to settle the vexed question of laud tenure, or determine the other side issues that have boon raised. The Hauraki Tribune does not believe that Mr Montgomery has fully considered what he was talking about. Men's minds are unsettled throughout the whole civilised world upon the 'question of land tenure. They • see that the sharper, the sneak, and the thiel, if he can only once acquire propeity m land holds his own against every one. What must be done (adds our outspoken contemporary) is to stop this. We are told to wait for the general election, and then to apply a remedy. Our reply is : Not so. Take the question now. Hammer it iuto the minds of the people that borrowing must be stopped : that the sale of these great areas of land to absentee holders must be definitely and absolutely stopped : and that such a tax shall be imposed upon the clear profit rental of absentee landlords as shall refund to the State the unearned increment of those landlords' estates. We do not care a rotten straw for the whole rii'ik of Major Atkinsons and the office seekers' and barnacles with whom he is identified; or for Mr Montgomery and the narrow interests of which he is the representative. Aud that^will lastly aud clearly bring us to

the remaining i>tuie timft the Press, ;tt least, seems to lie putting before the country—" Who is likely to carry out what the people really want ?" We are told Sir G- oug.: G-rb will do it. We say clearly and decidedly, Sir Gi.org i' Gk y will never carry out what is required. It is against the very nature 'and essence of the possibilities of tho position that he should d-» so. We do not want mere pruning. We ..wantagqo'i stout axe and a cross exit saw. St<>] l orrowiug : stop land selling : brint, Rolleston's leasing, and the DeferredPayment and Homestead Systems into operation over every acre <»f land now m the hands of the Government : stop immigration, for the lime at least : and give the Government one half the sum that it now expends on the Civil Service — and then go to tho genera! elections. We know full well that these are the only measures which by any possibility can bring us round to moderate prosperity, and we wait patiently to see the man arise who has back bjne enough to adopt them.