ENCOURAGE IMPROVEMENTS 1 89 



I attach more importance to the argument, frequently 

 advanced, that an improvement which increases the 

 letting value, or prevents it from falling, clearly increases, 

 not diminishes, the general assets of the owner. The 

 provision of the money may, in many cases, cause diffi- 

 culty and limitation of the power to improve, in some 

 cases may operate as a complete prohibition at the 

 present time. But I believe that the granting of State 

 loans on cheaper terms, and the influx into agriculture 

 of some of the vast accumulations of capital now bring- 

 ing next to no returns, which we expect to see follow a 

 satisfactory amendment of the law as to tenants' im- 

 provements, will be found to remove the anticipated 

 difficulties, perhaps slowly, but surely. 



In respect of improvements like laying down perma- 

 nent or temporary pasture, which has been found in 

 practice to be the best expedient for making farming 

 pay in these times, we think that the arguments 

 advanced by many witnesses establish an unanswerable 

 case for giving the tenant a free hand, and a right to 

 full compensation. 



It is proved that this class of improvement must be 

 carried out with skill, judgment, and considerable outlay, 

 if it is to be successful at all. If it is badly done, it may 

 only lead to further expense in cleaning the land, and 

 recommencing the operation. It is, therefore, to the 

 interests of all concerned that there should be the 

 strongest inducement to the tenant to do it well, if he 

 does it all. 



In the present state of the law there is the strongest 

 inducement to the tenant to adopt temporary and 

 inferior methods. He has no security. In most cases 

 where application is made, consent has apparently been 

 refused, and the tenant has been compelled to lay down 

 at his own risk. And if he has gone to the expense of 

 laying down well, he has no other means of extorting 

 compensation than the threat to destroy the improve- 

 ment he has made. By this threat, some tenants have 

 been able to obtain agreements guaranteeing them a 

 small compensation. 



