XVI HOW TO NATIONALIZE THE LAND 277 



Supposing, however, that the heir or heirs did not wish 

 to occupy the estate, but wanced to realize and divide 

 their property, they could freely sell the tenant-right, 

 including everything that was upon the land, either by 

 private contract or public auction, and the purchaser 

 would at once become the holder of the land under the 

 State. 



As regards the other farms, which had been rented out 

 by the last owner, each tenant in actual occupation at the 

 time of his death would have the right to continue 

 undisturbed in his holding, thenceforth paying the fixed 

 ground-rent to Government, and purchasing the tenant- 

 right from the heirs of the last owner of the land. If a 

 private agreement could not be arranged between the 

 parties, owing to exhorbitant demands by the owners of 

 the tenant-right, the tenant should be empowered to 

 claim that the amount payable should be determined by 

 an official valuer, who should take as a basis of his 

 valuation the difference between the " ground-rent " and 

 the average net rent actually paid for the preceding five 

 years, calculated at a moderate number of years' purchase, 

 dependent on the state of repair of the premises and 

 general condition of the farm. 



Should the tenant not be able to pay this amount, author- 

 ized public associations of the nature of our building 

 societies or, failing these, the Government or the municipality 

 might advance a certain proportion of it on security of the 

 tenant-right, repayment to be made by equal installments 

 for a limited period. This, of course, refers only to these 

 cases in which the tenant does not already possess the 

 tenant-right. But when all the buildings and 

 improvements on the farm have been made by the 

 tenant, or have become his by purchase or in any other 

 legal or equitable way, then he will have nothing to pay 

 to the last owner of the land, but will at once become a 

 holder under the State, at a very greatly reduced rent, 

 with absolute certainty of tenure for himself and his 

 heirs, and with perfect security as to the possession of 

 whatever further improvements he may make upon the 

 land. 



