Italian Fanners in War Time.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 1372903, 25 October 1917, Page 2

Italian Fanners in War Time.

Time. PROTECTED BY THE STATE. HOW CONTRACTS ARE GOVERNED. Agrarian contracts, the general use of agricultural machinery, and the selection of agricultural district committees arbitrating committees for the judicial districts are governed by an Italian decree Avhich Avas published at Rome on June I. The treatment that is to be accorded contracts under conditions produced by the war is described, and various contingencies are cither specifically provided for or made subject to the decisions of special tribunals says Air D. E. Wilber, American Consul at Genoa, in a communication to the United (States Department of Commerce.

Agrarian contracts, verbal or in writing, whether sharing in the produce or at fixed salary, however denominated, or for small lease, arc extened for the agrarian year following that in which peace shall bo published . The arbitrating committee of the commune, however, may allow the cessation of the contract at the termination of the agrarian year in course, for reasons duly recognised as serious. Where persons, of the family of the farmer at fixed salary, who is called to arms, arc unable to provide in considerable measure for such co-operation as is due from the salaried farmer, suspension may take place, or the proportionate reduction of the salary in money or produce. The family of the salaried farmer, however, shall be permitted to enjoy the dwelling and the accessories (garden, poultry yard, fierwood, etc., provisions pre-determined either by express compoct or by custom, garden tolls, hoes and rakes). In default of agreement between the parties, the arbitrating committee of the commune shall decide. This ruling also applies to contracts of lease and husbandry of associations of labourers who personally cutlivatc the land. The widow, children, parents or other successors of the farmer or small lessee who has died in he war or because ot the war, so far as they are part of his family and connected with the working of the farm, may apply for (he extension of the contract to the arbitration committee of the commune, giving evidence that they in a position to execute the contract. The fact that it is necessary to take on extra labourers for the purpose shall not prevent such extension. The small lessee is considered to be a person paying a rental not exceeding 2000 lire (£100) per annum total for-one or more farms. ; CLOSING OR FARM ACCOUNTS.

Tlic farmer or small lessee of a. farm who shall be under arms has a right to petition that the closing of farm accounts shall be extended from year to year until the end of the agrarian year following that in which peace shall be published. For such period and in such case the terms of the contract and of custom dependent on the closing- of farm accounts srhall be suspended.

In contracts of sharing husbandry, where the crop alone is concerned, the light is recognised of the owner or operator of the agrarian concern, as well as of the farmer or his family, to call extra hands upon the- farm in corresponding number to those members of the farmer’s family who have been rendered unable to w'ork because of the war, dividing the relative expense in the same proportion as the crops arc divided among the parties. In contracts of small lease stipulated prior to May 24, .1915, and in case the arbitration committee of the commune at the instance of the lessee shall recognise' the serious economic condition confronting him as a result of insufficient cultivation of the farm, because of the call to arms of members of his own family, the committee may declare a reduction of the amount of rent for the year in course and foil those following the extension to be within the limits of 15 per cent, on one-half of the rental for cvcr3 r male of the family who shall be under arms. The same, bonus may bo granted also for small contracts stipulated after May 24, 1915, when it shall be proved that at the time of stipulation re-call to arms was not taken into consideration; likewise to the widow, children, and other dependents of the lessee in cases where they shall have continued the contract. In case of sub-lease, the bonus shall be provided 50 per cent, by the owner and 50 per cent, by the former lessee. For contracts involving money, rent and share of produce this ruling shall, bo valid.