POWER FOR FARMS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 23, 27 July 1920, Page 6

POWER FOR FARMS

TRACTOR NOT A SUCCESS.

■ So far as he has been able to judge, Sir James Wilson, President of the Farmers' Union, has not found the farm tractor a general success- In his address to the union he said that in some parts of the Dominion, especially in the Auckland Province, they had certainly assisted in bringing land into use; but for farm work generally the tractor had not yet "arrived." Perhaps in certain seaeons, in the rush of work, they'might be useful, when cost of production was not the only consideration. It was to be regretted that there, had not been evolved a mechanical horse, to cheapen cost and come into general use, because increased production was demanded. "I am afraid," said Sir James, that electricity is not going to be much help to us, so far as cropping is concerned; for the wiring of a farm'for transmission purposes would probably debar most people from using this means of propulsion, even if current were available. It has been used successfully for threshing, and no doubt might be used to a much, greater extent if the current generated is sufficient to'ineet all the other wants. If this is done we may work our farms much as they do in Scotland and in all parts of England, where all the crop is drawn to.the stockyard and put through a stationary mill in the steading. In my young days, before steam became general, at a steading I have seen tour horses* going round and round providing the power; and in other cases a waterwheel was brought into use." . i