FARMING AFFAIRS

Chronicle (Levin), 9 February 1948, Page 8

FARMING AFFAIRS

(This oolumri is supplied weekly by Kedcrated Farmers of New Zealand, and the information piven is pfflcial, __but any views expressed are those of ■"the Ffederation, and are hot necessarily those of this newspaper.) Tractor Importations. "Wliile additional dollar allowanees t'or the importation of farm tractors and niachinery were granted by the Now Zealand Gover,nment only after piotracted negotiations and, linaily on the representations of the Aid for Britain Naiional Gouncil, the Anstralian (iovernnienl: has plaeed no restrieti)n under its dollar eonservation progranime on their importations. In f'act, higli among the few import itepis which Australia will not restrict are farin tractors and lnachinery. Four projects for the manufacture of tractors in Australia are being fostered by the Go^ernment bnt tractors from those factories are not likely to be available bel'ore the middle of the year. Meanwhile 12,000 farm machines are retpiirecl to supplv long-outstandina re(|uirements and in Australia 's driye fo'r increased food production, no limit has been plaeed on the dollar allocation necessary for their importation. The additional million dollars now to be allowed by New Zealand will help the position rnateriall'y in the Dominion. At the same time shortages ot ! certain essential farm maehinery upits must eontinue wTith consequept illeffects on the overall production - progranune. Federated Farniers had been makiug strong, factual representations on the subject for some time before app.roaching the Aid for Britain National Coun-. cil towards the end of last year. The prosition was then surveved at various coiiferences of representatives of the tractor impovtors, the Aid for Britain

Couneil, Government Departnients, and Federated Farmers, Then the chairmau of the Aid for Britain Couneil (Mr. F, P, Walsh) carried the matter to the Pyime Minister and the additional million dollars' ivas' subsequently allocated, - At that time, while licences for spar» parts hoth from the United Ivingdom and United States of Amerioa hatf been issued in full, tractor import licences had been granted for only 1200 from U.S.A, and 1276 from the United King doni. Gf the latter 50 were te be nr the 10 to 17- h.p. class, 750 in the 23 to 30 H.P. class and 476 in the over 30 H.P, class. No type of class specilications were fixed for the 1200 from U.S.A. Full details have now been formulated of the types required and licences now proyide for a proper balanee of type and elasSes of tractors. It ik understood- that 4,000, tFactors weri; available in the United States and Gan ada for export to New Zealand. The impliment position so far as import licences are concerned is as fol lows: All applieations for mowers have 'been granted in full, siderakes to, 6(1 2-3 rds per cent. of applieation: Balers to 25 per cent: Corn harvesters in full: eombine harvesters t(T~25 per cent : Tractor made ploughs, liarrows, cultivators and binders to 20 per cent: Thresher engines to. 75 per cent, (