AGRICULTURAL INSECURITY 25 



operations must be starved for lack of 

 capital. 



The immediate effect has been to create a 

 feeling of uncertainty and unrest among the 

 farmers of the country, which is reflected on 

 their farming operations, to the detriment of 

 agriculture and of national wealth. Good 

 farming can only be conducted if security of 

 tenure is assured. Of this a tenant has always 

 felt confident in the past, provided his rent 

 was paid and his agreement fulfilled. Genera- 

 tions passed and a tenant farmer's son would 

 succeed his father, to be succeeded by his son 

 in turn. Recent events have shown, however, 

 on what unusual foundations his security has 

 rested. His faith in his position was apparently 

 only justified by the sentiment and stability of 

 his landlord. The fabric of the whole industry 

 was based on the traditions of an aristocracy — 

 traditions so well upheld and so jealously 

 guarded as to contribute a proud chapter in 

 the history of our race. The relationship of a 

 landlord and his tenants was bound by a sense 

 of responsibility on the part of the former, and 

 of absolute confidence on the part of the latter. 

 Nothing apparently could occur which would 



