TENURE 87 



particularly having regard to public opinion in regard 

 to rent. 



There is also an ethical consideration : under the 

 tenancy system the farmer is inclined to look to the 

 landowner for assistance when in difficulties, instead of 

 reiving upon his own resources, and this is not good tor 

 his character ; but it is a side which, it is right to point 

 out, has become noticeable as a result of the agricultural 

 depression. 



It is argued that under the system of occupying 

 ownership it is harder to maintain the standard of 

 cultivation, and to keep the farmer up to the mark. 



'I'he answer to this is that in countries where ownership 

 dominates the highest average standard is found, and 

 the condition of the buildings is exemplary. This is 

 not due entirely to ownership in itself but rather to 

 public opinion which demands a high state of cultivation, 

 and to the organization of co-operative societies and 

 credit societies which have laid down rules and regu- 

 lations that must be observed if the individual farmer 

 wishes to enjoy the full benefits of membership. In 

 practice the pressure a landowner can bring to bear 

 upon his tenant's methods of farming is nil. If a tenant 

 is farming badly the landowner can dismiss him for 

 reasons of good husbandry and good estate management, 

 but he must be farming very badly before the owner will 

 resort to this extreme measure. 



Finally, it seems to be practically impossible to 

 establish any satisfactory system of credit for the farmers 

 in this countr}' ; and the fact that the majority are 

 tenants must have a great deal to do with it, for it is 

 obviously much easier for an owner to borrow money 

 than^'it is for a tenant. The need for this access to 

 working capital has long been recognized by the Ministry 



