1921.] Redemption of Tithe Rentcharge. ■ 827 



Again, the earthen floor is important. So many make the 

 mietake of concreting the floor, which is bad both in hot and in 

 cold weather. Another feature of great importance is the pro- 

 vision of side and end ventilation and two doors, the inner one 

 being of fine gauze like a mosquito-proof door of the tropics. 

 With the ventilator closed and the door blocked with a sheaf 

 of straw, this store is frost-proof in the severest weather. 

 ****** 



PROGRESS IN THE REDEMPTION 

 OF TITHE RENTCHARGE. 



Prior to the passing of the Tithe Act, 1918, the conditions 

 under which tithe rentcharge was redeemable were by no 

 means attractive to landowners. The amount payable in prac- 

 tically all cases was 25 times the original commuted figure, so 

 that whether the value of £100 tithe rentcharge stood at 

 £6f> 10s. 9Jd., as it did in 1901, or at £109 3s. lid., as it did 

 in 1918, the landowner who wanted to redeem would have to 

 pay £2,500. Moreover, where the tithe rentcharge exceeded 

 20s. the landowner could not redeem without the titheowner's 

 consent, and if such a tithe rentcharge was attached to a 

 benefice, the concurrence of the bishop of the diocese and 

 patron of the living was also necessary. 



With a view to encouraging redemption, the Tithe Act, 1918, 

 dispensed, generally speaking, with the necessity for any con- 

 sents by the titheowner, patron or the bishop, and provided 

 that the consideration for redemption should be fixed by agree- 

 ment between the landowner and the titheowner, or, in default 

 of such agreement, by the determination of the Minister. No 

 agreement is, how r ever, valid : — 



(a) If made by a spiritual person entitled in respect of his 

 benefice or cure, except with the consent of Queen 

 Anne's Bounty; or 

 (h) If made by a person (not being a spiritual person so 

 entitled) w^ho is not empowered to sell the rentcharge 

 unless he obtains the consent of some other person, 

 except with the consent of that other person. 

 Section 4 (1) of the Act directs that, in default of an agree- 

 ment as to the amount of the consideration for redemption, the 

 Minister, on the application of the owner of the rentcharge, 

 or of the owner of the land or any part thereof, shall determine 

 what is fair compensation for the redemption in accordance 

 with the method prescribed in the First Schedule of the Act. 



