CHAPTER X. 



The General Relations of Landlord and 



Tenant. 



The general relations of landlord and tenant, as dis- 

 closed in this inquiry, form one of its pleasantest features. 

 Even on the part of some of the sharpest critics among 

 the farmer witnesses there has been a striking display of 

 the good-will and consideration which seem to have 

 been shown by the best type of farmer to his landlord 

 all over the country. 



And there has been evidence throughout the inquiry 

 that the difficulties under which landlords labour, especi- 

 ally where their income is wholly agricultural, are frankl)- 

 recognised, and a most generous interpretation put by 

 tenants on the action taken by landlords both in making 

 reductions of rent, and in endeavouring with a narrowed 

 margin of income to keep up their properties. 



The general feeling is probably expressed fairly 

 enough in some passages of Mr Wilson Fox's report on 

 Lancashire. 



" Generally speaking, there has been a policy of give 

 and take between landlord and tenants." " Landlords 

 and tenants have both been hard hit, but we have met 

 each other as far as we could." 



The same tone of kindly sympathy with the landlords 

 and readiness to accept even insufficient reductions was 

 expressed by many witnesses. 



But the accounts of some Lincolnshire farms which 

 we have analysed demonstrate that this acquiescence 

 and good-will on the part of the tenant, who has been 

 bearing more than his fair share of the loss, is rather a 



