232 AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION 



another farm, would much more than balance any possible 

 compensation he could obtain under the Act. 



The three main suggestions made to remedy these 

 evils, viz., compensation for increased fertility, due to 

 long continued good farming, compensation for loss by 

 removal when a tenant is disturbed in his holding, and 

 compensation to the sitting tenant at the determination 

 of a tenancy, when the terms of renewal are being con- 

 sidered, have been fully discussed and approved in the 

 preceding chapter. 



These three amendments of the law, with the equally 

 important amendment as to its administration by a 

 single official arbitrator, would very materially alter 

 the position of the tenant as regards bargaining for a 

 fair rent. At the same time it has been admitted that 

 it would be, though less probable, still perfectly pos- 

 sible to defeat these objects by unjustly enhanced 

 rents. 



I therefore proceed to consider the evidence given as 

 to the necessity and desirability of determining rents 

 judicially, or by some form of arbitration. 



The mass of evidence which has been analysed 

 in the earlier chapters and the very serious con- 

 siderations it has been necessary to weigh and ex- 

 amine, as to the economic impossibility as well as 

 the injustice of rents shown to be paid at the present 

 time, have convinced me that the onus of proof must 

 rest on those who oppose any reasonable scheme for 

 reducing rents to an equitable and workable level. And 

 reasons have been stated in Chapter X for some doubt 

 as to the alleged acquiescence of farmers in the present 

 state of things. And, in the evidence of many wit- 

 nesses, there has been declared a strong desire for 

 arbitration as to rents, at the same time that they 

 express distaste and disapproval of what they call a 

 "land court.'' 



Further, it is obvious that the demands and sugges- 

 tions should be examined as regards the substantial facts 

 and grounds alleged, and without regard to the merely 

 verbal distinctions made with imperfect appreciation by 



