SHARING THE RISK

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 104, 29 October 1931, Page 11

SHARING THE RISK

(To tlw Editor.) Sir,—l wonder whjr the two persons wk* are moat concerned in the sale of land.do not share the risk of the market price of butter, cheese, meat, and wool by.dsfinitely relating payment for the urn of land to the price of produce, so.ss to.cut this market knot which tie* the fanners hands, and which his own skill and bunness ability can never loosen. Usually, the purchaser takes the whole risk, which, if the sate had not been effected, would still be with the owner of the unsold [and. Why not co-operate, since to receive the whole of a possible gain means less to each than to avoid the possibility of an the loss! As the uncertainty m partly removed, the land would be sold mow readily. It is really the way among share milkers, and gives more «yea returns to them and to the owners of ti» around. And following the same principle is best for avoiding the necessity for relief; as it also is for giving it whea "ivTlSt would be the effect if, in the "di»-s posal of land the produce o£ which -is exported, it could be agreed between the parties that for a period of two or three years a reduction or an addition should b« made in the payments of interest or rent, according as there might be a material fall or rise in market prices? The temporary but timely co-operation of the vendor would give confidence to the producer and greatly help to establish him on a new farm. Loss and gain due solely to market changes of one penny or more per Ib could be halved; but details would vary. And the principle would well apply to Government lands and induce » forward movement in their occupation and, we. Any apparent disadvantage could bo balanced v other parts of the contract, end thus give first place to this way of insuring against, uncertainty, and to tte oeo» nomic arid political principle of eHmmatfwg the element of luck.—l am, etc, . EJt.B,