SINGLE OFFICIAL ARBITRATOR 225 



ledge of such arbitrators and the uniformity of their 

 decisions will tend to diminish the number of cases in 

 which the parties take action. 



While Mr Hope wishes the appointment of the official 

 arbitrator to be made by the sheriff of the county, the 

 majority of witnesses are clearly in favour of appoint- 

 ment by the State through the Agricultural Department. 



From the north of England similar suggestions are 

 general. 



The principle of a single arbitrator to do the whole 

 valuation, to be an official, and not selected by the 

 parties, is strongly supported by Cumberland land 

 agents.^ 



Mr Kay, who represents one of the farmers' organisa- 

 tions in Lancashire, takes a similar view, and thinks the 

 costs would be greatly lessened by making the county 

 court judge the official umpire. There should be an 

 official list of valuers from which the parties might select 

 referees appointed by the county council, and not more 

 than half of these land agents. 



The Cumberland farmers " would prefer some fixed 

 tribunal with a legal president and practical assessors, 

 working under a fixed scale of fees.'' 



Mr Punchard approves of the single referee principle, 

 but would not make it compulsory. Arbitration now 

 since the Act of 1889 is usually by one person, and that 

 procedure should be extended to the Agricultural 

 Holdings Act. 



Mr Forster thinks " the Act fails from want of con- 

 fidence in the umpire," 



" The best plan would be for a person to be appointed 

 to act in all cases through the county, an impartial 

 person, appointed by the county council. Farmers 

 would kriow when they were investing their money in 

 improvements, what they had to expect." It would 

 diminish litigation ; " it is the uncertainty that causes 

 the mischief." 



Mr Bowen Jones wishes arbitrators appointed by the 

 county council, or the Board of Agriculture. 



' Wilson Fox, Cumberland, p. 18. 



P 



