ITALIAN FARMERS IN WAR TIME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 9, 5 October 1917, Page 8

ITALIAN FARMERS IN WAR TIME

' PROTECTED BY THE STATE

HOW CONTRACTS ARE GOVERNED

Agrarian contracts, ihe general, use of agricultural machinery,. and llio selection of agricultural district committees and arbitrating coininitic.es for the-judi-cial districts are governed by- an Italian decree which was published, at Rome en Juno (. The treatment that is to bo accorded contracts under conditions produced bv tho war is described, and various contingencies- are either specifically provided .for or made subject to the decisions of special tribunals, says Mr. D. F. Wilber, .American Consul at Genoa, in a communication lo tho 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 extended for the agrarian year following that in which peace shall be published. The arbitrating committee of- the' commune, however, may allow tho 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, are unable to provide in considerable measure for such co-operation as is due from the salaried farmer, suspension may tako place, or the proportionate reduction of the salary in money or produce. The family of the salaried farmer, however, shall be permitted lo enjoy the dwelling and the. accessories (garden, poultry yard, firewood, etc., provisions pre-determined either by express compact or by custom, garden tools,, 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 cultivate the land.

The widow, children, parents, or other successors ot the farmer or small lesseo who has died in Ihe war or because: of the war, so far as they are part .of bis family and connected with the working of the farm, may apply for the extension of the contract to ihe arbitration committee of the commune, giving evidence that they are in a position to execute the contract. Tho fact that it is necessary to take on extra labourers for the purpose sball not prevent such oxtension. 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 of Farm Accounts. The farmer or small lessen 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 publish, ed. For such period and in. such caso tho terms of the contract and of custom dependent on the closing of farm accounts shall be suspended. In contracts: itf sharing husbandry, where the crop alone is concerned, the ■right is recognised of the owner or operatftior of the agrarian concern, as well as of the farmer or his family,.to call extra hand* upon the farm in corresponding number to those members of the farmer s family who are under arms, or have died, or shall have been rendered unable to work because of the war, dividing the relative expense in the same proportion as the crops are divided among the parIn contracts of small lease stipulated prior to Hay 21, 1910, and in case tho arbitration commit Ice 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 ol the call to arms of members of his own family, the committee may declare a reduction of the amount of rent tor the year in course and for those following, the extension to be within the limits of 15 per cent, on one-half of the rental for every male of the family who shall bo under arms. The same bonus may be granted also for small contracts stipulated after May «, 1315, when it shall be proved that at the time of stipulation recall to arms was not taken into consideration; likewise to the widow, children, and other dpendants of the lessee in cases where they shall have continued the contract. In case of sublease, 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 be valid.