DISTURBANCE OF TENANTS 207 



of opinion that, failing satisfactory tenancy conditions, occupying 

 ownership presents the only adequate alternative. 



The Bill reached the report stage in the House of Lords, 

 but was then allowed to die, unregretted by all, rumour hinting 

 that even its parents were ashamed of it. 



In December, 1913, the President of the Board of Agri- 

 culture (Mr. Runciman) received a deputation from the 

 Council on the subject, when this report was fully discussed 

 with him. 



In the ballot for private member's Bills in 1914 Sir Luke 

 White obtained the fifth place, and at the request of the 

 Parliamentary Committee introduced a Bill to counteract 

 the effect of the judgment given in the Shrewsbury County 

 Court and to secure to tenants compensation for disturbance 

 if dispossessed for purposes of sale. Sir Luke White succeeded 

 in carrying this measure through the House of Commons. 

 It was then taken in charge by Lord Barnard, who saw it 

 through the House of Lords, and it received the Royal Assent 

 on 31st July. 



The position, therefore, now is that a condition of 

 insecurity and great anxiety has been created by the 

 Government, who are unable to provide or even to 

 suggest an antidote acceptable to the victims. Agricul- 

 tural opirion is overwhelmingly hi favour of the proposals 

 contained in Mr. Collings' Land Purchase Bill, but the 

 Government, driven by a Socialist section of their 

 followers, refuse to admit that the sufferers understand 

 their own case. The Unionist party have taken up the 

 subject of " purchase " as their own, and the question of 

 ownership for either large or small holdings has become the 

 shuttlecock of the politicians. There is small hope, therefore, 

 of any rational solution being arrived at until it has ceased 

 to have value as a party asset. Meantime, the unfortunate 

 farmer is left to try and get out of a difficult situation made 

 for him by other people. 



There are other expressions in Section 11 of the Act of 1908 

 which will require amendment either by litigation or legislation 

 to construe or simplify them, and other points will be raised 



