FARM TRACTORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1939, Page 3

FARM TRACTORS

INCREASE IN NEW ZEALAND. Agricultural tractors in New Zealand as at January 31, 1937. numbered 6585, an increase- of 875 in the year. In the figures available of the 1938 importations agricultural tractors arc not classified, but the value of “all" tractors imported was £806,030, art increase of £71,647 on 1937. In this total increased value it is to be presumed that agricultural tractors are fairly well represented, but not to the same extent as usual, as probably much of the importation of the last year has been for public requirements. Subsequent to the “slump” years th'ei'e was a decline in agricultural tractors, on account of circumstances that will be recalled by most, farmers, but as the ■figures appended show the increase in the last few years has been exceptionally heavy, and the 1938 figures are not yet available. There is no clouding the issue that the cost of labour is the main cause of the increase in the last three years, as it is also of the number of sales of horses. From 1930 to 1937 the detailed figures of tractors on the farm are as follows: —1930. 3891: 1931, 5023; 1932. 4856; 1933. 4972'; 1934. 5062; 1935, 5349; 1936,-5710; 1937, 6585.