Bad Times and Recovery 93 



The policy of regulating the relations between landlords and 

 tenants was carried a step further in the Agricultural Holdings 

 Act of 1908. The principle of compensation for unexhausted 

 improvements was extended, farmers were set free from restric- 

 tions about cropping in certain ways, and not selling certain crops 

 such as hay and straw, and the new principle of compensation for 

 unreasonable disturbance was introduced. This new principle 

 has been carried further in the Second Part of the Agricultural 

 Act of 1920, which provides that a tenant may receive up to 

 two years' rent, if he is turned out for any reason except bad 

 farming. 



When the war came in 1914 agriculture was enjoying a modest 

 prosperity. The census of 1901 showed the smallest number of 

 people ever recorded as engaged in the industry. In 1911 they 

 had increased ; the slight improvement had attracted men 

 back to it. Wages had risen, although every one admitted that 

 they were much too low in many parts of the country. Cottages 

 were poor and scarce in most places. On most estates little 

 building had been done since 1879. A political movement had 

 been started to deal with questions of tenure, taxation, housing, 

 and wages. Most people recognized that there was a serious 

 problem, however much they might differ about the methods of 

 dealing with it. 



The war put a stop to all this, and created new conditions. 

 Prices rose. Labourers joined the army and wages rose. Farmers 

 went on without interference, ploughing more land to get the 

 benefit of the high prices, or in response to appeals from the 

 Government, until 1917. They were then put under control of 

 the Board of Agriculture, and advised or ultimately compelled, 

 to plough still more under the supervision of County Councils. 

 Prices of corn, meat, wool, milk, and other products were con- 

 trolled to prevent them from going too high. A Wages Board 

 was set up to fix the wages of labourers. The first minimum 



