Farm Machinery in Very Short Supply

Northern Advocate, 3 April 1947, Page 6

Farm Machinery in Very Short Supply

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Because New Zealand was becoming increasingly dependent on farm mechanisation even for maintaining present production, the farming industry needed to know what supplies could be expected said the acting Dominion president of Federated Farmers (Mr H. C. Blyde) in a statement today. Only then could plans be made for increased production. Ample import licences were available, he continued.

The necessary overseas funds had actually been appropriated by the Government but mechanised farm equipment was in extremely short supply. Urgent efforts to get in touch with overseas manufacturers on a properly organised basis of national procurement were obviously needed.

Besides serious economic causes, one major reason for the current decline in farm production was lack of tractors and farm implements. DIRECT CONTACT

No improvement could be expected without the immediate establishment of some direct contact with overseas manufacturers.

There were only limited importations from 1940 to 1942.

There was an improvement in 1943 and good supplies came to hand in 1944, 1945 and the first quarter of 1946.

Since then, however, little had arrived and present and urgent tractor needs were conservatively estimated at more than 6000 units, both of the wheel and crawler types. In New Zealand there were about 19,000 wheeled tractors, but' many were 15 years old, if not more. On an estimate of life of 10 years, there should be an annual replacement of nearly 2000. Since October last, one leading importer had received fewer than 50 wheeled and crawler tractors. Mr Blyde said the Government should send some competent man abroad to make direct contact with manufacturers.

He would need the backing of the state and certainly would have the support of every farmer.