REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE FRUIT INDUSTRY. 557 



(12) That it would be to the advantage of landowners and tenants in 

 fruit districts if, under the provisions of section 5 of the Agricultural 

 Holdings Act, 1883, they settled the basis of compensation by the " parti- 

 cular agreement " therein referred to. 



(13) That a Bill should be passed for facilitating the purchase of small 

 holdings by tenants with assistance from public funds, somewhat on the 

 lines of the measure brought in by the Right Honourable Jesse Collings, 

 M.P., in the session of 1904. 



(14) That Rule No. 8 for the assessment for income tax, whereby 

 market gardens and nurseries are assessed for Schedule B according to 

 the rules of Schedule D, be repealed so far as it applies to market gardens. 



(15) That in the assessing of agricultural holdings for local rates the 

 assessments should not be raised by reason of the planting of fruit for 

 a period of five years after the planting in the case of small fruit, of seven 

 years in the case of mixed plantations, and twelve years in the case of 

 orchards. 



(16) That in the case of glass houses, the allowance of one-sixth 

 given to dwelling-houses for repairs in the assessment for income tax be 

 increased to one- third, by making a special allowance of one- sixth for 

 renewal, in addition to the one-sixth for repairs. 



(17) That the benefits of the Agricultural Rates Act of 1896 be 

 extended to glass houses used for commercial purposes. 



(18) That it is highly desirable that a more simple and uniform system 

 of rates for fruit be introduced hy the railway companies. This can be 

 done, without a statutory re classification, with the assistance of the Board 

 of Trade. 



(19) That railway companies should make greater efforts for ensuring 

 the prompt delivery of perishable fruit. 



(20) That railway companies be urged to provide suitably ventilated 

 goods vans for fruit traffic, similar to those recently introduced by the 

 Midland Railway Company. That sheeted trucks without sheet supporters 

 should never be used. 



(21) That it is most desirable that all fruit be consigned at company's 

 risk, and that the so-called owner's risk rates be abolished, the rates at 

 company's risk being reduced to a figure approximating to those now in 

 force at owner's risk, but providing the companies with just a sufficient 

 margin for the extra liability incurred. That 5 per cent, would be a fair 

 margin. 



(22) That, in the event of owner's risk rates being retained, the 

 liability of the railway companies should not be confined to cases where 

 only wilful misconduct, but to those where culpable negligence, can be 

 proved. 



(23) The Committee also suggest that, in view of the recent tendency 

 to combine among the railways, it would be an advantage if the Govern- 

 ment were to appoint an official or a department to watch over the com- 

 panies' actions, and to report to Parliament. 



(24) That in the cases of all serious grievances against the railway 

 companies, growers and merchants should at once send their complaints 

 to the Railway Department of the Board of Trade, and ask them to exercise 

 their powers under the Conciliation Clause of the Act of 1888. 



