Il6 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND - MISCEI,I.ANEOUS 



(3) That great tracts of country are devoted to sport and the pre- 

 servation of game and that serious damage is done to crops by the game ; 



(4) That landowners do not see a sufficient prospect of getting a return 

 on the capital which would be expended in the reclamation of waste lands ; 



(5) That many farmers have an insufiicient knowledge of the best 

 scientific methods ; 



(6) That, in many cases, men without sufiicient capital are endeavour- 

 ing to cultivate large areas ; 



(7) That much land has been laid down to permanent pasture which 

 could be more profitably cultivated ; 



(8) That, under the present system of local taxation, all improvements 

 are rated and improvement is thereby discouraged. 



It is pointed out that in 1908 the net agricultural output of England 

 and Wales was estimated at £ 127,650,000 per anntun and that even a small 

 percentage of increase would mean an important addition to the national 

 wealth. 



The Committee collected evidence regarding the damage done by game 

 and came to the conclusion that it was considerable. Under the Agricul- 

 tural Holdings Acts, igo8, and the Ground Game Act 1880, farmers can 

 claim compensation for such damage, but the Committee were of opinion 

 that the compensation so paid was inadequate, mainly because the farmers, 

 not having security of tenure, were afraid to press for all the compensa- 

 tion to which they were entitled. Some suggestions are made for amending 

 the laws relating to compensation, but the committee is emphatic in saying 

 that these reforms will be of comparatively Httle value if provision is not 

 made for granting complete security of tenure to tenant farmers, subject 

 to good farming. 



(e) Security of Tenure, 



From another and more important point of view the Committee also 

 insisted upon the necessity of security of tenure. Without it, they declare, 

 complete justice and freedom cannot be enjoyed by the farmer nor can 

 the land produce its full yield. Under the Agricultural Holdings Act 

 of 1908, an outgoing tenant can obtain compensation from the landlord 

 for certain specified improvements, but in many cases the previous consent 

 of the landlord must have been given if compensation is to be claimed, 

 and it is said that such consent is difiicult to obtain. The Act also gives 

 compensation for " unreasonable disturbance, " but this only covers the 

 loss or expenses in connection with the sale or removal of his household 

 goods, implements, produce or farm stock. There is, moreover, no provision 

 to prevent a landlord from demanding an increased rent upon the tenant's 

 improvements, though if, as a result of such demand, the tenant is obliged 

 to leave his holding, he is entitled to compensation for'disturbance. 



The Committee propounds three methods by which complete security 

 of tenure could be obtained : 



(i) State-aided purchase by the^tenant farmer. 



