8 OCTOBER 1881, Page 3

The Farmers' Alliance have published their draft Bill for securing

tenants. Its main provision, as we mentioned last week, is that the tenant shall sell his improvements to a pur- chaser, whom the landlord must accept, or pay the same sum. The landlord, however, in admitting the new tenant, must give him a seven years' lease, either at the old rent, or at a rent fixed by a Court composed of the County-Court Judge and two Guardians of the Poor. In the event of two years' notice not being given, it shall be understood in law that the tenant's lease is renewed for the same term and at the same rent. Dis- traint for rent is abolished, and it is to be recovered, like any other debt, through the County Court ; while the Land Court shall have power to determine any question of money whatever arising between landlord and tenant. On the other hand, the tenant is liable for deterioration, and the Land Court may order him to desist from injuring the land, or even eject him, if he persists. The Bill is well drawn for its purpose, but it goes too far. The landlord may under it be compelled to admit a single rich tenant of his own to all his farms, the poorer tenants being bought out, and that for seven years.