56 PROPOSED TENANCY REFORMS 



The large holdings should not be restricted in any 

 way as to situation ; but their tenants, being generally men 

 of some education and business experience, will be less in need 

 of protection than the general class of cultivators. I would 

 suggest that the statutory privileges, other than the general 

 law relating to the yearly tenants, should not extend to 

 them, so that the tenants of holdings above some limit of 

 between 50 and 100 acres should not become occupancy 

 tenants, nor become statutory tenants in Oudh. They would 

 of course be free to enter into any contracts with the land- 

 owners; and many of the landlords would probably be 

 prepared to grant leases on terms which would be negotiated 

 separately in each case. It will be seen that if my proposals 

 for the protection of tenants-at-will should be adopted the 

 tenants of large holdings would have ample inducement to 

 carry on their cultivation by improved methods. 



The law relating to yearly tenants would apply also to 

 every kind of sub-tenant and to every person in cultivating 

 occupation of land who has not got some superior right. 

 Tn reality there will be no such thing as a tenant-at-will. 

 I propose that the analogy of the English law be followed 

 so as to modify the existing practice in a manner favorable 

 to the cultivator. Tt is necessary to provide for the yearly 

 tenant : (1) ample notice before ejectment. (2) the right 

 to compensation for improvements, (3) the right to com- 

 pensation for disturbance, and (4) a standard form of yearly 

 agreement, clearly defining his rights and obligations. 



(1) The period of notice should not be less than twelve 

 months and it should terminate at the end of the agricultural 

 year which might be taken in these Provinces to be any 

 date between I5th of May and 30th of June. The notice 



where the term " tenant-at-will" is used it must be understood to 

 mean the class of tenant subject in greatest degree to the landlord's 

 will ; and such class, if my proposals were adopted, would be the 

 yearly tenant.- 



