A very unfortunate amendment was carried by Mr. Balfour, who
proposed that in respect of improvements for which the. consent of the landlord need not be asked, the compensation shall never exceed the amount of the outlay. The objection to thie is that it discourages good agriculture. The tenant -knows for certain that if his intended improvements do not turn out to be
improvements, that is, do not add to the value of the holding, he must lose the whole outlay. His compensation, then, ought not to be so closely limited as this amendment will limit it in relation to those improvements which are successful, and which add more than the amount of the outlay to the value of the holding,. otherwise he will be liable to indefinite loss on unsuccessful im- provements, and if turned out will secure only au unprofitable compensation even for his most successful improvements. Mr. Balfoar's amendment was, nevertheless, carried by 141 votes to 133, to the great annoyance of the Government, who speaking by Mr. Dodson, described the amendment on Wednesday as one gravely diminishing the value of the Bill. Probably the Government will invite the House on the Report to reconsider this amendment.
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