THE IRISH LAND QUESTION. 39 



considering the chances of change in prices and the 

 value of gold, is there anything unreasonable in 

 thinking twenty-one long enough ? 



When it is said that a tenant on leaving a farm 

 should be paid the unexhausted value of any per- 

 manent improvement he has made in it, I do not 

 believe there is one landlord in a hundred that 

 objects to such a proposition. The only conditions 

 desired are that the improvements shall be bond fide 

 improvements, properly done and recorded, so as to 

 avoid after disputes and the setting up of indefinite 

 and fraudulent claims. 



The want of such provisions was the great defect 

 in Mr. Fortescue's Bill of 1866. There was nothing 

 to secure that the improvement was bond fide made 

 at all or was properly done. It was not even 

 registered. All was left to be ascertained years after, 

 when, perhaps, most of those were dead who knew 

 the facts, and litigation and numerous frauds would 

 have been the sure result. 



Much has been made of the question whether the 

 landlord's assent to the improvement shall first be 

 required. Except as a question of principle, I have 

 always thought this was of little practical import- 

 ance to either party, provided only the improve- 

 ments are bond fide made and well done and recorded. 

 The number of landlords who are such idiots as to 

 refuse their assent to real improvements that would 

 better secure their rent, and at some after time add 



