SCOTCH DEMANDS I 85 



involved, why the same principle, mutatis mutandis, 

 should not be applied to all kinds of farming. 



The desire for similar rights in ordinary farming is 

 expressed most strongly by the energetic and successful 

 type of farmer. 



From Scotland the demand, as might be expected, is 

 practically unanimous. 



Mr Hope, in both his important reports on the great 

 arable and grazing districts in Scotland, puts this point 

 at the head of the suggested amendments of the Act. 



" The schedules should be abolished, and all improve- 

 ments executed by the tenant, and tending to give an 

 enhanced letting value to the farm, should be paid for 

 by the landlord at the termination of the tenancy." 



In regard to buildings and some other permanent 

 improvements, the landlord should, Mr Hope says, be 

 protected by a reference to the official valuator, who 

 should decide whether a proposed improvement was 

 suitable and would add value to the holding. But as 

 regards laying down to permanent pasture, or drainage, 

 the tenant should have absolute freedom, with com- 

 pensation for remaining value at the end of the 

 tenancy. 



Mr Speir points out that, in the south-west of Scotland 

 the value of the landlord's property has been enormously 

 enhanced by permanent improvements made by the 

 tenants without statutory protection, and subsequently 

 confiscated by the landlords. He quotes an instance of 

 a farm where the rent has been increased since an early 

 date in the century, from £^0 to £220 entirely by 

 tenant's improvements, for which there was no legal 

 protection. " The removal of stones, levelling, road 

 making, etc. have, as a rule, been done by the tenant, 

 and if interest on all these outlays were allowed, a very 

 small sum indeed would remain for rent." 



Mr Guild, land agent, thinks that as regards buildings, 

 roads, fences, and water supply, the drainage procedure 

 should hold good, but as regards all other improvements 

 no consent and no schedules should be required. 



Mr Riddell 2 thinks there should be compensation, 



