whom it has been the intention of Parliament to debar from such exactions. Now, it is not pretended that the imposition of rack rents is at all a general practice with proprietors. The high value of the goodwill on many estates is the index of the landlord's moderation, and his virtues are put up to auction in the same lot with his land.[1] The rents of Ireland are comparatively low,[2] and fines, which is the worst form of rent, are never taken: to transfer therefore the power of exaction created by competition from the landlord, against whose interest it is to enforce it, and to hand it over to the tenant, who would never fail to do so, would hardly be a change for the better; yet so little is this question understood
- ↑ "Is the value of it (goodwill) increasing or decreasing? Increasing on our estate.
Evidence of Mr. Alex. Kinmouth, Farmer.
"How do you account for that increase?—They have found out that Colonel Close is a good landlord."—Ibid. p. 294"They would go unknown to me or to any agent, and give an additional sum to get what is called 'the good-will' of it."Generally speaking, over the country, what is the amount of the sale of the tenant-right per acre by the year's rent?—It depends very much upon the landlord under whom the farm may be held. If he is a good landlord, and a man of character in the country, the price will be higher; if he is an inferior landlord, the price will be comparatively low."—Ibid. p. 171.Evidence of Henry Leslie Prentice, Esq., Agent to Lord Caledon.
- ↑ This I believe is generally admitted, though there are flagrant exceptions; even a rent that is absolutely low, may be beyond the means of an indigent or unskilful tenant.
been improved?—No, I do not think it does; and I think small farms sell higher infinitely than many large ones." Dig. Dev. Com. Summary, p. 308.
