TRACTORS FROM BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25553, 22 July 1948, Page 4

TRACTORS FROM BRITAIN

FIRST OF CRAWLER TYPE IN N.Z.

INFORMATION GIVEN BY MR NASH

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 21. When more import licences were made available recently for tractor im-_ ports from the United States particular attention was given to crawler tractors, said the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) replying in the House of Representatives to-day to Mr A. S. Sutherland (Opposition. Hauraki). Large numbers of American wheel tractors were also provided for.' Mr Nash said the scheme proposed by Federated Farmers for still further imports was being considered, but added: “It is not proposed at present to raise loans in the United States.” When Mr Nash’s reply was referred to later by several Opposition members, Mr Nash said a meeting with Federated Farmers’ representatives had been deferred at tneir request until next week. He could tell the House to-day—only a few minutes ago —he had received a letter advising him that British crawler four-and fivefurrow tractors would be available in 1949. That was good news. Opposition voices: Hear, hear. Mr Nash said that if these new British tractors did become available it would be wrong for New Zealand to press for American tractors requiring the use of dollars urgently needed by Britain. Mr K. J. Holyoake (Opposition, Palmerston) suggested that it was likely that British tractors might not be available in any quantity until 1950. Mr Nash replied that he had no definite information, but a sample tractor of this type was already in New Zealand. He invited members to attend when Federated Farmers’ representatives waited on him. Mr Nash added that he thought there was something a little fanciful in the proposal of Federated Farmers. FARMERS REPLY TO MR LAWN BRITAIN IMPORTING SAME TYPES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 21. A reply to a statement on the availability of tractors in New Zealand made in Christchurch by the vicepresident of the New Zealand Farm Implement Manufacturers* Federation (Mr T. H. Lawn) was made to-day by the Dominion action committee of Federated Farmers. The committee said it seemed impossible that Mr Lawn did not know that farmers were in urgent need of a wide variety of equipment. “Mr Lawn questions the wisdom of importing tractors from a dollar source, but, being an implement man, he must know we are not importing any tractors from America that could be supplied from England,” the statement said. “He must also know that England is importing from America for her farmers the same type of equipment as we are desirous of importing from America for our farmers. There is therefore nothing strange or unusual in Federated Farmers applying pressure toward securing this much-needed equipment which we know will materially assist to increase primary production, most of Britain™ 111 eventuall y be shipped to