CONFERENCE ON FRUIT GROWING 



43 



Then in the case of glasshouses the assessment is very unfair. It is 

 absurd that in the case of glasshouses, which depreciate, as everybody 

 knows, exceedingly quickly, only the same amount of deductions should be 

 allowed for repairs as in the case of an ordinary dwelling-house, namely 

 one-sixth. To suppose that an ordinary dwelling-house deteriorates and 

 wants renewing as often as a glasshouse is absurd. There can be no 

 doubt that in the case of a glasshouse one expects a sixth or an extra 

 something should be allowed in order to arrive at a fair value. Then in 

 regard to local taxation glasshouses are very unfairly treated in the fact 

 that they are not allowed to come under the provisions of the Agricultural 

 Rates Act, but are treated as buildings. Under that Act agricultural land 

 pays only one-half, and buildings pay the full amount. Glasshouses 

 do not stand to the fruit plantation in the same position as an ordinary 

 farm building does to an ordinary farm. The glasshouse is the shelter 

 under which part of the produce is really grown, and it ought to come 

 under the head of land instead of buildings. The Committee felt that 

 that was another special grievance and ought to be dealt with, and we 

 recommended that in the case of glasshouses the Agricultural Rates Act 

 should be made to apply. I am very well aware that on both these 

 questions a great deal of controversy is likely to be aroused. I do not 

 suppose for a moment, especially on the question of land tenure, that we 

 shall in any way be unanimous, but I do hope that we shall have an 

 interesting and instructive discussion, and I believe that the right solution 

 of these questions depends largely upon how far it may be possible to 

 extend the industry, to the great advantage of the country generally. I 

 have to announce that one of the gentlemen whom we had hoped to be 

 present to-day — I mean the nominee from the Wisbech Fruit Growers' 

 Association — is unable to be present. I will now ask Mr. Cecil Hooper 

 to address the Conference. 



Mr. Cecil H. Hooper, F.S.I. : Land tenure in relation to fruit 

 culture is more intricate than in the case of ordinary farming, and 

 consequently it is more difficult to arrive at justice between landlord and 

 tenant. Previous to the passing of the Agricultural Holdings Acts and 

 the Market Gardeners' Compensation Act, many landowners had equitable 

 agreements and dealt justly and liberally with their tenants who had 

 improved their land by fruit planting ; others took advantage of their 

 tenants' skill, time, and money. In order to bring the latter class of 

 landlords to recognise their responsibility and do justice to their tenants, 

 the Market Gardeners' Compensation Act was passed. 



In former days there existed a more paternal spirit between the land- 

 owner and tenant, and between the farmer and his men, than, I fear, now 

 generally exists. This is partly due to greater class independence, and to 

 the severer struggle for existence. 



The British farmer and fruit-grower now need to be given every just 

 facility to make their business profitable, when produce similar to that 

 they grow may be brought in free from any country to the same markets 

 at which the grower sells, to the flour mill in his neighbourhood, or to 

 the shops in his village. 



There appears to be special difficulty in legislating between land- 

 lord and tenant when agriculture is concerned ; lawyers seem apt to set 



