Power to prepare tables of prices of produce, etc.

(1) For the purpose of determining the amount of compensation to be awarded under this Act, the Government may prepare tables for the whole or any part of the State showing all or any of the following matters:— (a) the price of cocoanuts, arecanuts, pepper and paddy; (b) the cost of— (i) cultivating and harvesting a crop of paddy; (ii) planting, protecting and maintaining a cocoanut tree, an areacanut tree, a jack tree, a mango tree, such other tree as may be notified by the Government from time to time and a pepper vine, until the tree or vine is in bearing; (iii) protecting and maintaining a cocoanut tree, an arecanut tree, a jack tree, a mango tree, such other tree as may be notified by the Government from time to time and a pepper vine for one year when in bearing. (2) The tables prepared under this section shall on publication be receivable in evidence and the rates and amounts therein specified shall be presumed to be the proper rates and amounts until the contrary is proved: Provided that, in so far as such tables prescribe prices of products, the presumption shall not be rebuttable except by proof of the average price as provided in section 14.