338 AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION 



not, generally speaking, desired. Tenants prefer to 

 arrange rents, if possible, without the intervention of 

 a third party, but failing a satisfactory agreement^ 

 they feel tha tarbitration sJiould be at hand. To this 

 proposal some landlords make no objection. The 

 owner of a very large estate said : ' Provided that an 

 entirely impartial arbitrator could be found, arbitra- 

 tion would not be objectionable to me.' On another 

 large estate, arbitration has already been called upon 



to settle disputes as to rent Given a person 



whose mind is free from bias or partiality, it is 

 thought that his presence would be of immense 

 benefit, and his assistance freely sought and fully 

 acquiesced in."^ 

 And the vital reason for such arbitration is also clearly 

 stated. Mr Pringle goes on : — 



" It was frequently stated that the tenant, who by good 

 and liberal treatment has made his farm a place to 

 be desired, is in a most unfortunate position when 

 seeking a reduction of rent. It is to protect such a 

 man from being rented on his own good manage- 

 ment that arbitration is suggested. Both in Durham 

 and Yorkshire, I heard of numerous cases where 

 landlords had sent away good tenants, owing to 

 disagreement upon the question of a fair rent, and 

 after a time had been forced to accept lower offers 

 from strangers." 

 These passages from the Yorkshire Report are also with- 

 held, although obviously of the highest value as matter 

 upon which the judgment of the Commission should be 

 given. 



Mr Pringle found similar opinions general in the South 

 Midlands. His evidence when examined as to his report 

 is conclusive.^ Thus he says : — 



" The Bedford Agricultural Society, the Huntingdon 

 Agricultural Society, and the Northampton Agri- 

 cultural Society and Chamber of Agriculture, selected 

 all my witnesses for me," — (100 in all) — "including 

 landlords as well as tenants." 

 " My note-books show that almost one out of every two 

 tenant farmers that I saw spoke on this subject — 



' Pringle, Durham and York, 29. 



2 Mr Pringle's Evidence Vol. IV, 47,607 to 48,246. 



