168 LAND TENURE 



From 1851 onwards agriculture was voiceless on this sub- 

 ject until the Chambers came on the scene. The first mention 

 of the matter appears on the minutes of 21st November, 

 1868, when compensation for unexhausted improvements 

 was suggested by a local Chamber as a subject for discussion. 

 It was, however, postponed owing to the urgency of matters 

 relating to cattle disease and local taxation. 



On 8th June, 1869, a debate took place on " The Over- 

 preservation of Game," when the following resolution, moved 

 by Major Craigie, was carried by a large majority : 



" That this Chamber regards the over-preservation of ground 

 game as an unmitigated evil ; but considers that it would be 

 undesirable to introduce into this question legislative inter- 

 ference between landlord and tenant." 



On 5th April, 1870, the following resolution was agreed to : 



" That in the opinion of this Council the application of capital 

 to agriculture is discouraged by (1) the undue amount of local 

 taxation upon capital invested in land and its improvement ; 

 (2) uncertainty of tenure and absence of compensation for 

 unexhausted improvements ; (3) unnecessary restrictions upon 

 cropping ; and (4) the over-preservation of ground game." 



On 31st May a further resolution on ground game was 

 agreed to. 



On 4th June, 1872, the Council devoted almost a whole 

 meeting to a discussion on compensation for unexhausted 

 improvements, and adjourned the debate to 5th November, 

 when another discussion of some hours took place, and the 

 following resolutions were carried unanimously : 



** That this Council considers it necessary for the proper 

 security of capital engaged in husbandry that, when such security 

 is not given by a lease or agreement, the outgoing tenant should 

 be entitled by law to compensation for the unexhausted value of 

 his improvements, while at the same time the landlord should be 

 paid for dilapidations and deterioration caused by default of 

 the tenant, provided that such compensation is subject to pre- 

 vious consent of the owner in the case of buildings, drainage, 

 reclamation, and other works of a permanent character." 



" That this Council considers absolutely necessary a change 

 in the law of tenancy, so that, in all yearly holdings, the letting 

 and hiring of agricultural land, as well on entailed and ecclesiastical 

 as on other estates, shall be subject to at least twelve months' 

 notice to quit, cases of insolvency except ed." 



