Otago Pastoral Runs.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1799, 24 February 1886, Page 3

Otago Pastoral Runs.

REDUCTION IN RENT ASKED FOR.

Mr Ballance, Minister of Lands, has been waited upon at Dunedin by a number of deputations. One was from runholders requesting a reduction of rent on pastoral runs, which they asked for on the ground that since iSdz there had been a fall of about 23 per cent in the price of wool, and stock had also declined. Mr Ballance said the question was a serious one financially, as it meant an addition to the property tax, and must be looked on 111 that light. The amount of money Government were now receiving from tne rents of pastoral runs was about £200,000 a year, and it must be apparent that any considerable reduclion might mean a loss of £50,000 or/ioo.ooo, and in the present state of the finances of the Colony that would impose the necessity of further taxation. He questioned whether the pastoral tenants had any more right to ask for a modification of their contract than those who had purchased land for cash in iSS2. and who had also suffered from the fall in the price of staples If the Government made concessions toother tenants who were suffering from the same causes, he would; like to know if wool had gone np instead ot tailing would more rent have been offered. The deputation stated that if wool had risen and then fallen they would not th«e. but there has been a continuous fall since the leases were taken up. Mr Ballance said the matter must come before Parliament He would lay it before the Cabinet, if possible, belore rent dav (March 14). .»