212 AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION 



fix between the parties by valuation or agreement the 

 rent of the farm in its existing condition, and then 

 assign to the sitting tenant the value of his improve- 

 ments by allowing a percentage upon the money value 

 of the compensation he would have got, if he had left 

 the farm, as a deduction from the rent. There is no 

 reason why, in general, such an arrangement could not be 

 come to, and this probably is substantially the practice 

 now on the best managed estates. 



This change would have as a result that the land- 

 lord, instead of being tempted to squeeze the tenant 

 because of his reluctance to abandon his improve- 

 ments, will consider that, whether he drives the tenant 

 away or keeps him at an unfair rent, he will have to 

 pay the full value of the improvements, whereas he may 

 save his money by giving the tenant a reasonable 

 deduction off the rackrent and let him remain. The 

 reform substitutes a motive of common sense for a 

 thoroughly base, though often unconscious, motive. 



Compensation for Disturbance. 



Another proposal frequently made in evidence, with 

 the view of putting the tenant on a more equal footing 

 in bargaining as to rent and conditions of tenure, and of 

 giving him greater security as regards both the retention 

 of the holding, and of his interest in his improvements, 

 is that, under certain circumstances, compensation should 

 be paid for disturbance. 



The proposal was, it appears, originally adopted by 

 the Committee of the Central Chamber, and only struck 

 out at the last moment from their report, and has twice 

 received the approval of the Chambers. 



Mr Latham, who has had notice to quit, owing to the 

 bankruptcy of his landlord, thinks that in such a case, 

 or on the death of an owner, or in the case of capricious 

 eviction, the tenant should receive compensation for a 

 disturbance such as it is almost impossible for him to 

 foresee. Such a change of ownership through death, or 



