FARM MACHINERY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3284, 5 July 1943, Page 7

FARM MACHINERY

CONSERVATION ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS SHORTAGE OF REPLACEMENTS ‘•Although New Zealand is as yet outside the actual zone of conflict, she is nevertheless playing a creditable and worthy part. While her soldiers gain fame overseas, the civilians at home have earned the highest praise in waging the battle of supplies. While every section of the community has its contribution to make, agriculture is our basic industry, and the heaviest punch must come from the farming community,” says Nil- P. S. Syme. Instructor in Agriculture, Warkworth, in an article on the conservation of farm machinery.

“In spite of many serious war-time difficulties, export statistics clearly show that the New Zealand farmer has played his part well and it may safely be taken fpr granted that he will continue to do so. In modern farming, however, production is largely dependent on machinery, and with manufacture greatly curtailed in favour of munitions, many types of farm machinery will necessarily be in very short supply. Weapons of War “All kinds of .farm equipment, whether it be tractors, mowers, hay rakes or any other of the many tools employed, can be regarded as the farmers’ weapons of war, and as such should be maintained at the highest pitch of efficiency. “Every machine or implement in New Zealand represents a considerable number of man-hours of work. From the time the metal is first mined till the machine is assembled at the factory and finally transported to the farm, it continues' to absorb labourhours in manufacture and transport. War, as everyone knows, makes particularly heavy demands on metals and transport agencies—two bottle necks which very materially influence the prosecution of the war.

Policy in America “This aspect is now receiving serious attention, even in America, the home of machines. In that country vigorous propaganda concerning the maintenance and repairs of machinery is at present being sponsored by the U.S.A. Agricultural Department, in cooperation with Machinery Rationing Committees and the big manufacturing concerns. According to a recent report in an American newspaper, special emphasis has been laid on farmers ‘planning to get along on the machinery they have, and getting the maximum possible usage from each machine by co-operative work, proper care, maintenance and timely repairs.’ “Since, from point of view, it is at present much more economic to repair rather than to replace worn implements, manufacturers in America are concentrating specially on the provision of ample spare parts, and recent figures show that the stocks of these now held by dealers are 160 per cent in excess of the 1940-41 figure. “Quite apart from the man-hours involved in making a complete machine, the difficulties involved in transporting it to New Zealand are very real indeed, and ’it is evident that the substitution of spare parts likely to be needed, instead of complete machines, can effect a very appreciable saving in shipping space. Avoid Peak Loading “Since most farm operations tend to be seasonal in nature, it is evident that this is apt to result in a series of peak loads being placed on local repair depots. If, however, each machine is overhauled before being laid away for the next season, and any necessary repair parts ordered at once, this will help to even out the load on youi’ machinery firms; furthermore, it will help to reduce the risk of a machine being out of commission in a busy period on account of a glut of repair work, or because a spare part is not immediately available. “Needless to say, special attention must also be paid to the most efficient handling and maintenance of machines on the farm.”