LECTURE VII 



TENANCY REFORM IN THE UNITED 

 PROVINCES. 



In the early lectures an attempt was made to survey the 

 economic forces which affect the tenancy problem and how 

 they might be expected to apply under the prevailing condi- 

 tions. We then gained some acquaintance with the English 

 law and practice relating to landlord and tenant ; and in the 

 last lecture I dealt briefly and critically with some of the 

 proposals which have been put forward for reform of the 

 tenancy laws in these Provinces. Having always in view the 

 good of the whole community and its advancement by 

 making agriculture more productive, we saw that any 

 extension of occupancy rights or any fixed tenure or long 

 lease system would be likely to hinder progress, and must be 

 condemned on that ground. A proposal to fix rents either 

 by a branch of the executive Government or by judicial 

 procedure was found to involve very serious difficulties, 

 especially if it were sought to fix rents at less than the 

 economic rent of the land with a view to benefitting the 

 tenants by interfering with the competitive distribution of 

 wealth. 



It remains for me in the present lecture to enter upon 

 the most difficult part of the task which I have set myself : 

 namely, to indicate the lines along which reforms generally 

 admitted to be necessary, should be directed. I do not 

 pretend to be able to give you in this short course of lectures 

 anything like a complete solution of the tenancy problems 

 of these Provinces. I cannot even say that I am satisfied 

 that my present opinions as regards the desirability and 



