PROPOSAI^S FOR IvAND REFORM II9 



in a Bill, but are to be found in speeches delivered by the Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer (Mr. I4oyd George) and the Prime IVIinister (Mr. Asquith). 



In regard to agricultural labourers, it is proposed that a minimum wage 

 should be secured to them by an extension of the Trade Boards Act. 

 It is further proposed to create a IMinistry of Lands, some of the powers 

 of which would be exercised through Commissioners of a judicial character. 

 Amongst the powers so exercised would be those of revising the hotirs of 

 labour and granting to tenant-farmers an abatement of rent to enable 

 them to pay a living wage to their labourers. 



The Commissioners would also have power to revise all notices to quit 

 and, where the reason assigned was inadequate, to treat them as null and 

 of no effect, or to award fuU compensation to the evicted farmer. 



They would have similar powers to award compensation for improve- 

 ments and for disturbance in cases where a farmer was given notice to quit 

 because the estate was about to be sold. Further they would have general 

 powers of fixing fair rents and of fixing the price of land when compul- 

 sorily acquired for any pubHc purpose. 



To the Ministry of I^ands would be assigned all the functions at present 

 exercised by the Board of Agriculture ; the machinery of valuation set up 

 under the Budget of 1909, and the administration of the law affecting set- 

 tled estates at present administered by the Court of Chancery. New dut- 

 ies would also be assigned to it in connection with registration of title and 

 land transfer, with a view to the simplification of the present systems. It 

 would also be given powers to acquire derelict and uncultivated land and 

 to afforest, reclaim or prepare it for cultivation. 



It is further proposed that the provision of cottages should be under- 

 taken on a large scale by the Central Government, the Reserve Fund creat- 

 ed under the National Insurance Act being utiHsed for this purpose. For 

 cottages so created a commercial rent would be charged. 



Facihties would also be offered for the erection of cottages in the coun- 

 try for town-workers, in order to reheve the over-crowding in the towns, 

 and, to make this possible, means of transit would be improved. 



l/ocal rates would be reduced by increasing the contribution of the Im- 

 perial Exchequer to the cost of certain services. 



Much still remains vague in the proposals, which will doubtless be 

 made clear when a BiU is drafted. It is not yet fully clear, for example, 

 what functions of the Ministry of I^ands would be exercised through Jud- 

 icial Commissioners and what through executive officers. 



§ 3. Criticisms of the i^and enquiry committee's report. 

 • 

 The Report of the I^and Enquiry Committee has, naturally, been 

 subjected to considerable criticism from various quarters. The criticism 

 which, perhaps, carries most weight is contained in a pamphlet entitled 

 " The Ivand Problem : Notes suggested by the Report of the Land Enquiry 

 Committee. " These notes are published under the auspices of the so-caUed 



