198 AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION 



Mr Sheldon points out that some improvements last 

 even for fifty years. " I could show you the effect of 

 boning the land fifty years ago, and you can see the im- 

 proved quality of the grass to-day. It depends upon 

 the character of the land." 



It may be gathered from the evidence that there is no 

 general disposition to challenge the justice of the tenant's 

 claim to have long continued expenditure in enriching 

 his farm fairly considered and allowed for, except the 

 contention discussed earlier in this Report, that 

 the tenant will have practically reaped the full benefi 

 of these outlays during the course of his tenancy.^ 

 This view seems to us unsupported by evidence, whereas 

 the permanence of the fertility induced by such treat- 

 ment of farms seems to us established. There can be 

 no doubt also that it was the intention of the Act to 

 allow just this type of compensation. 



The real question is how far such compensation can be 

 practically arrived at. 



Mr Bear and others, who prefer the method of free 

 sale of improvements to compensation by valuation, are 

 of opinion that "any attempt to value improvements 

 that have been carried out on a farm for years past is 

 almost impossible." 



Mr Riddell's view that an expert agriculturist can 

 really estimate rise of condition and general improve- 

 ment, aided by a scheduled record of the state of the 

 farm at entry, and by the evidence which would be 

 produced both of the actual outlays and also of the 

 increase of crops or of stock carrying power, seems a 

 sufficient answer. I am therefore of opinion that it 

 should be made perfectly clear in an amended Act 

 that the tenant is entitled to be compensated for 

 improved condition irrespective of time limits, and I 

 also hold that the evidence under this head makes it 

 still more necessary to alter the administration of the 



Act. 



' Pages 109, no. 



