44 Agriculture and the Community^. 



of the land. Everything is tending in that direction at 

 present. Even the landowners who want to retain 

 possession of the land and control of the farms are un- 

 willing or unable to finance the necessary improvements. 

 They urge that the State ought to lend them money at a 

 low rate of interest for this purpose. The granting of 

 security of tenure and judicial rents would merely accelerate 

 the pace and drive out the private owners more quickly, 

 and bring the State into the position of taking over the 

 functions which used to be performed by the owners of 

 land. As the interest of the State would be the develop- 

 ment of the industry the change would be all to the good, 

 although the result would have far-reaching results in our 

 system of land tenure, and would not be relished by the 

 more easy-going farmers who prefer an indulgent landlord 

 who does not make many demands on their industry or 

 their enterprise. 



Occupying Ownership. 



I have stated that farmers do not wish to become 

 owners of their holdings. This may appear to be contro- 

 verted by the fact that there has been an increase in the 

 number of occupying owners during the past three years. 

 That was to be expected. Farmers have enjoyed good 

 years since the second year of the War, and many of them 

 are in a position to be able to buy their farms. That a 

 section of them are desirous of setting up as owners is 

 probably true, but that, as a class, they do not want to 

 become owners is clearly shown by the strength of the 

 demand for security of tenure. It is a well-known fact 

 that many who have bought have done so because they 



