MILKING MACHINES

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22244, 13 January 1944, Page 2

MILKING MACHINES

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CONTROL AUCKLAND, Thursday It was stated at a conference in Auckland yesterday of industrialists concerned in the manufacture of agricultural machinery that the request from the British Government for New Zealand production to assist in pcst-war reconstruction covered a wide range of farmimplements. In addition to normal farm • machinery, the request covered milking machines, butter churns, irrigation equipment, farm pumps and windmills, domestic water, systems, poultry equipment and electric fence controllers. It was decided that the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation should be requested to approach the Government to have the Milking Machine Control Order. 1942 revoked. “Out-of-date plants are one of the main reasons for the present decline in dairy production. Old machines are being used and farmers find the utmost difficulty in obtaining replacements,” said one representative. “Manufacturers contend that there are sufficient supplies of non-ferrous metals in New Zealand and in sight to fill their requirements foi two years, yet the Government still continues with its control.” “Seventy-five per cent of the present milking machines are obsolete or in poor repair,” said another member. “This means the employment of extra man labour, if available, or decreased production, as the cows are not being stripped properly.” Discussing the labour position on farms, members stated that many farmers had reduced the size of their herds because of the shortage of manpower. One member quoted the results of a census taken recently from about 1000 farmers, which showed* that their herds had been reduced by 80.000 cows. It was decided to approach the federation with the request that the Government should give assistance to farmers in the provision of suitable labour and thus increase production.