FARM TRACTORS FROM U.S.

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 6

FARM TRACTORS FROM U.S.

440 To Be Imported In First Half Of 1950 ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR NASH (New Zealand Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 13. The Government intended to provide for the importing of 440 medium and heavy agricultural crawler tractors from America in the first half of 1950, said the Minister of Customs (Mr Nash) in a statement this evening, in which he discussed imports of tractors, graders, and agricultural machinery from dollar sources. Ho estimated that 3.460.000 dollars would be spent on these imports in the first half of 1950. “The Government ha 6 for some time been giving special consideration to the provision that should be made for these types of equipment,’’ said Mr Nash. “It has had before it the results of a survey conducted by Federated Farmers of the needs of the farming industry, together with the reports of its own officers. The recent announcement that licences were being granted immediately for the importation of large numbers of hay-balers and harvester threshers and a limited number of side-rakes and tedders, represents the first step toward meeting these needs. The bulk of this machinery is expected to arrive in New Zealand in time for thb coming harvest. “In deciding what provision should be made for imports of any goods from dollar sources, there are three important factors to be considered. These are: first, the need for the goods; second, the extent to. which requirements can be met from local production or from sterling or soft currency sources; third, the amount of dollar exchange that, having regard to other commitments. can be made available. Conserving of Dollars “It will be appreciated that problems associated with the widened dollar gap and with the recent devaluation of sterling have not made the position any easier as yet and that, even in the case of the most essential commodities, great care must be taken to ensure that dollars are not spent unnecessarily. “Fortunately, difficulties have lessened as far as tractors, farm machinery. and graders are concerned by a phenomenal increase in the production of this equipment in the United Kingdom. but there are still some fields in which British production is not yet quite adequate to meet the special requirements of New Zealand farmers and it is therefore necessary, until that gap is closed, to find dollars to provide for equipment in these fields. “At present no definite plans’can be made for the second half of 1950, as June 30. 1950, will be the end of the current year for the balance of payments between sterling and dollar areas. Developments during the rest of the year ending June 30 will therefore to some extent dictate the action that can be taken to cover requirements in the period July-December. 1950. It is accordingly proposed to provide for the importation of 440 medium and heavy agricultural crawler tractors from the United States in the first half of 1950. These, together with spare parts needed to maintain existing and new equipment, will probably cost about 2.300.000 dollars. Industrial Tractors

“In addition, about 1.000.000 dollars will be made available for imports of industrial tractors and spares, making a total of approximately 3.300.000 dollars for tractors and parts to be imported in the first half of 1950 from dollar areas. "Fortunately, it will not be necessary to import many American graders. as this type of equipment is now much more readily available from other sources, and it is not expected that it will be necessary to spend more than about 160,000 dollars on these in the first half of 1950. “It should be noted that this is for the first half only of 1950. and that the extern to which additional licences can be issued for lhe second half of the year will bo determined as soon as the whole position of sterling-dollai trade becomes clearer. The amounts I have stated are estimates only.”