217 



settlements the prices taken were the prices of ryot's selling 

 months. In recent settlements the average prices of whole 

 years are taken subject to the deductions above referred to. 

 In view of these differences, it seems to me, that the commuta- 

 tion prices should be discarded and that the average prices 

 of 20 years prior to the existing settlements or such other 

 period as may be considered sufficiently long for arriving at 

 a fair average should be taken as the initial standard and 

 compared with a similar average of the period immediately 

 preceding the year in which the revision of settlement is under- 

 taken. This evidently is the course enjoined by the Govern- 

 ment of India, and it is the fairest under the circumstances. 

 The price lists on which future enhancements of assess- 

 ment are to be based should also be published in the Official 

 Gazettes under arrangements similar to those prescribed in 

 section 39 of the Bengal Tenancy Act.^° The deduction to 

 be made from prices for cartage and merchant's profits in 

 order to find the producer's prices and the margin to be left 

 untouched in the increased value of produce — whether 15 per 

 cent, as mentioned by the Government of India or other pro- 

 portion — should be definitely fixed. The limit to the enhance- 

 ment of assessment at any one time, suggested by the Madras 

 Government, should likewise be laid down. When these pro- 

 visions are embodied in definite rules and promulgated, the 

 object aimed at by the Government of India in propounding 

 the scheme above referred to will be fully secured. 



II. The uncertainty or the Tenure of Ryots in Zemindaries. 



80. Before the commencement of the present century the 

 ryots in Zemindari tracts, as well as the 



Zeltda^rySr nol ryots who paid rcvenuc direct to Govern- 



improved to the extent mcnt, wcrc rack-rcntcd and oppressed. 



GoTe^menT?y'iSas°' During the last 90 ycars, however, the 

 latter class of ryots have prospered in 



consequence of the measures adopted from time to time 



^ The provisions of this Bection are based on the principles adopted in the English 

 Tithe Commntation Acts. For finding the average prices arrangements will have to be 

 made for the selection of markets for the several descriptions of produce with reference 

 to their relative importance. Allowances will have to be made for the fact that the 

 average is unduly raised (1) because the average is struck on quotations of prices merely, 

 without taking into account the quantity sold at each price, quantities sold at higher 

 prices being smaller than quantities sold at lower prices ; and (2) because the grain sold 

 by ryots is of superior qualities while that consumed by them is of inferior quality. 

 Th© average varies also according as the quotations are in terms of varying amount of 

 money for a definite quantity of the article sold or in terms of varying quantity of the 

 article for a definite sum of money. It is the former that is price properly so called, 

 but in practice retail prices are quoted at so many seers per rupee. These and other 

 details will, of course, have to be carefully considered when revisions of land asiess- 

 ments are made to flepend solely on changes in prices. 



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