FARM MACHINE TESTING

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 18

FARM MACHINE TESTING

Possibility Of S.I. Station

(N.Z. Press Association)

NELSON, June 12.

The possibility of a station being set up in the South Island for testing all types of imported and locally-made farm machinery, and to carry out research and development work in that field, was envisaged by the Dominion conference of the agriculture section of Federated Farmers in Nelson today. The conference gave unanimous approval to a resolution supporting and approving the moves made so far to extend facilities for machinery testing at Lincoln College. Reporting on.a joint meeting of representatives of machinery manufacturers, importers, Lincoln College, and Federated Farmers, Mr F. J. Henshaw said Federated Farmers had been talking for some time about the need for the establishment in New’ Zealand of a station for testing new machinery and gadgets. It was a ma-tter which needed handling rather slowly, but there was clearly a need for some such service'. The present problem was finding financial ways and means.

The chairman, Mr G. A. Nutt, said he thought support for an initial modest extension to the facilities at Lincoln College would be well worth while.

He thought the cost increase would be fractional and it was very desirable that somewhere in New Zealand there should be a body able to carry out testing work on farm machinery.