FARM IMPLEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 281, 26 November 1932, Page 10

FARM IMPLEMENTS.

INQUIRIES FROM RUSSIA

SHOULD NEW ZEALAND EXPORT? In an advertisement at present appearing in the newspapers of the Dominion the Department of Agriculture of the Soviet Union states, through its agents, that it is prepared to purelase in New Zealand agricultural and sowing machines and implements which may be found suitable for its purposes. Dominion manufacturers arc invited to submit particulars, illustrations, prices and the maximum quantities they are prepared to contract for.

Christehurcn manufacturers were divided in their opinion about the proposal (states "The Press"). All agreed that the Soviet Union probably only wanted to use any New Zealand implements it bought as models on which its own factories could base their designs. One thought it would be best to have nothing to do with the Soviet, but another said he could see no reason fo>- not selling implements to Russia, as New Zealand had no export trade in implements which could be harmed by anything the Soviet did.

"New Zealand agricultural implements —harvesters, for example —are recognised as the best in the world, and no doubt the Agricultural Department of the Soviet Union has heard of this," said one business man whose firm is interested in the manufacture of such implements. "It is most likely that after a sample shipment has been sent the Soviet will use the implements as models and begin manufacturing on its own account. It has the plant to do so, and it seems unlikely that any regular export of implements from New Zealand to the Union could be built up. But even if the Soviet did merely copy our models no great harm would be done. At present the Dominion does not export agricultural implements except for occasional special orders, and there seems not the slightest chance that after they had begun manufacture for their own internal market the Soviet manufacturers would begin exporting such machinery to New Zealand."

"I think the less we have to do with it the better," said the head of another firm. He agreed with the others in the suggestion that the main object of the Soviet authorities was to obtain samples to be used as models for their own manufacturers to work on. Some time ago something similar had been mooted, but when he had inquired he had found that he was expected to take Soviet oil in exchange.