The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. Thursday, MARCH, 4 1886. THE SUPPLICANT RUNHOLDERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1649, 4 March 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. Thursday, MARCH, 4 1886. THE SUPPLICANT RUNHOLDERS.

, iThb agitation toe the reduction of the' rents of pastoral runs has already at-; tamed great dimensions. A "very in-: fluential „ deputation waited upon the Hon. Mr Ballance on Monday, "to re-j quest hiuito use his influence with the* Government to obtain a reduction m the; rents of the Otago runs, on the groiind; that wool had gone down, and that the? valueof all stock had considerably de-i creased since the runs were, purchased.; The Minister of Lands pointed bu! "that; it was a financial question, and that the; decrease of rents meant an. increase oftaxation ; and as we have been informed' on.other occasions, it is impossible to in-j crease the direct taxation : the propertied; classes have " already suffered so much, that they would be driven to desperation; by. any further enactments. It is-evi-; dent thut the loss of revenue rjlust he 1 made up by indirect taxation, which will^ fali most heavily on the working classes.: If the rn'nholders are permitted to re \ pudiate their engagements, and the rei duetion of Crown rents once commences*/ it -is hard to tell where or when it will'; end, ; and the brunt of paying for them release as also paying the interest on all further borrowed money will fall; upon us all, m the form of dearer! food, and clothes, and necessaries generally. . .. . • i ;