Mr. T. WILSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that in the absence of any restrictions advantage is being taken of the present demand for land for the production of food by the raising of rents for agricultural land all over the country; and whether lie will state the grounds upon which he has come to the decision not to introduce legislation extending the rent 1256W legislation now in force to rents for agricultural land?
§ Mr. PROTHEROThe Board are in formed that in certain cases, but not generally, rents are being raised to meet the increasing burdens falling upon land owners. There seems no reason to suppose that such an increase of rent will interfere with the production of food from the land, and it may often obviate the necessity of the owner selling his land in order to meet the increasing charges upon it.