POSSIBILITY OF COMPULSION 125 



but should compulsion ultimately prove to be neces- 

 sary in order to secure the breaking up of inferior 

 pasture, all land suitable for ploughing up would have 

 to be scheduled in each district. This scheduling 

 might be done through the agency of the Small Hold- 

 ings Commissioners of the Board of Agriculture, aided 

 by a small committee (chosen perhaps from the local 

 War Agricultural Committee) representing the land- 

 owners, farmers, and public authorities in the district. 

 Several of our witnesses considered that scheduHng 

 inferior grass suitable for breaking up would be of 

 advantage in itself, as directing the attention of agri- 

 culturists to the improvement of their land. We do 

 not, however, advise it, except as a part of a general 

 scheme for increasing tillage ; nor do we advise it 

 until our landowners and farmers have been given an 

 opportunity of responding voluntarily to the Nation's 

 call. 



71. It has been suggested (by som.e of those who 

 object to all the above proposals) that certain induce- 

 ments might be offered to farmers to break up grass 

 land by relieving arable land from a large proportion 

 of the rates and taxes which it would otherwise pay. 

 We consider that the whole question of local taxation 

 requires review, but, while we regard such relief as 

 long overdue, we do not think that any changes that 

 would be practicable in the laws of rating would be 

 of sufficient magnitude to affect to any considerable 

 extent the objects we have in view. 



72. We suggest that the Board of Agriculture should 

 acquire or rent in different parts of the country a 

 certain number of fa,rms on which the land is at pre- 



