FARM TRACTORS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 12

FARM TRACTORS

—* —- USE IN PRODUCTION DRIVE PROPOSALS FOR EFFICIENT EMPLOYMENT Problems arising from'the proposals to arrange for the use of idle tractors, on farms other than those of their 1 owners, under the farm production scheme for increased cropping, were discussed at a meeting of farmers,-. 1 in Christchurch on Wednesday. The; meeting was called by the North Can-i terbury Farmers’ Union. ] Mr R. P. Connell, ; who addressed themeeting on behalf - of the National; Council of Prirrfary Production, said| the question was whether the avail-; able tractors were now being used! efficiently. On individual farms they were; but it had to be considered, whether measures should not be taken to prevent their being idle. They might be used on other farms. Mr A. M. Carpenter asked whether the district committees would have to rely on the goodwill of other farmers, in making use of idle tractors, or whether there would be / any powers: of compulsion. “At present it will depend on goodwill and mutual arrangement." replied Mr Connell. “Everybody hopes that will be the position; yet we have to face the fact that there is the power to take action. At present there is no intention to exercise that power.” Later in the discussion, Mr H. S. Lawrence said that there should be no difficulty in getting the use of tractors under the scheme. The stock and station agents were inundated by offers of idle tractors at usual rates from farmers. Mr W. W. Mulholland: The difficulty will be getting over Some of the regulations. A labour problem in relation to tractors was raised by Mr H. Tetheridge, who said that under the linen flax growing scheme operating in the Oxford district one farmer who had three tractors was doing work on other farms. His tractor drivers had been approached by a unkjn official, who said they had to become members of the Drivers’ Union, and be paid the award wage. If that was universal. considerable difficulty would be met.. . „ “Why didn’t he tell the union official to take; him to law, and see if the law would make him pay those wages,” said Mr, Mulholland. “There is no such law. Some union officials have been . trying to ‘swing it’ across the people. There is no award applying to farm labour, which comes under the Agricultural Workers Act. Any union official who tries. to. interfere with farm labour which is being treated in accordance wiP- the act is certain ly exceeding his powers.” Mr J. Dunlop, of the Dairy Board, said this sort of thing had to be got out of the way while the war effort was on. - /* '• ■