FARM MACHINERY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 286, 28 July 1932, Page 6

FARM MACHINERY

COULD NOT BE MANUFACT URED ECON OMICALLY IN NEW ZEALAND. IMPORTER'S VIEWS. Pointing out that some types of agriculturai machinery could not economically be manufactured in New Zealand, the manager of one of the biggest importing firms handling these lines, says that the figure of £45,035, quoted reeently as the value of agriculturai machinery imported into NeW Zealand last year, gave a false idea of the position. He had been in touch with the Government Statistician, and had found that the value of imports competing with machinery made in New Zealand was less than £15,000 last year. The main types of machinery imported to the Dominion which competed with implements made here were harrows, drills, fertiliser distributors, cultivators and plough, and parts for all of these. From British countries, according to the Government Statistician' s figures, came £2136 worth of these implements last year and £9499 worth of parts. Foreign countries supplied £1409 worth of implements and £1736 worth of parts. Of these imports more than £6000 worth were parts for ploughs brought from British countries. "The duty on these goods is already very high," the importer declared. "The duty on British goods is 13.475 per cent., on Canadian goods, 40.425 per cent., and on American goods 47.16 per cent. "The statement that New Zealand is used as a dumping ground for American products is absolutely untrue," he added, producing a letter from his American headquarters asking him to estimate the quantity of all types of agriculturai machinery needed in New Zealand for the 1932-33 season, which was needed to enable the firm to estimate the total production which would have to be planned for by the factories. He pointed out that complicated machinery such as tractors must be mass-produced if it were to sell at a possible price. He also showed the reporter correspondence between his firm and its headquarters showing that there were special modifications made for New Zealand conditions to some machinery, maldng it impossible for a New Zealand firm to import surplus American production. "The New Zealand mnufacturer asks where his p.'rofit has gone," the importer said. "We haven't got it, and if he were to get all the business we handle it would not make a great deal of difference to him."