Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/492

4?4 V. other matters bearing upon the moral and condition of. the people and by personal observation and study on the spot, the results are bound to be more instructive and fruitful. The questions relating to trade, high prices, rack-renting and the absence ol industries in the above instance, affect the well- being ol a population exceeding half a lakh and ought to engage the anxious attention o! the student and the economic and social reformer. They did not fail, as a matter o! fact, to be noticed by the Oollec- for, the Settlement Commissioner, and the Commissioner, S.D. The Collector strongly recommended the restora- tion to the people o! certain forest privileges o! which they had efficiency been deprived to of agriculture. He the detriment of contended that the prices in a taluka which was mainly agricultural and had to import rice for feeding the population, could not be regarded as a blessing. except to a few big landlords. The subletting value of land in certain areas was unnaturally high and there was a certain amount of. rack-renting. The Collector, while accepting the facts presented by the therefore, settlement officer, did not agree with him as to his conclusions. The Settlement Commissioner did not accept the .view o! the Collector and pronounced, with respect to the effect of high prices upon the cultivators, that "individual holders ot land must benefit from high prices to the extent o! their produce; in fact, the ' haves' must gain st the expense of the havenots." In their lle?lu?on on this, (]overnment observed: ." They also consider that the high prices of. land are due to the pressure of the population, that the same cause accounts ?r the high rents and that there is ? distinct danger the Settlement of assessment remarks drew Commissioner, may fall on forth from that, as suggested by any material increase the tenants." These