Australia Wants British Tractors
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Types that are Required by the Authorities and Private Individuals
INDICATIONS are to hand of a 'definite improvement in the tractor trade of Australia. The principal agricultural demand is from wheat growers. In addition, there is movement in directions which did not exist before the slump. Tractors are being bought for orchard work, general farm duty, road construction in most States, pumping in the sugar-cane-growing districts of Queensland, the rice irrigation areas of New South Wales, and for logging in forest areas.
The number of machines employed in the newer spheres is small, compared with the number used in connection with wheat-growing, but the demand increases and inquiries are being made for British tractors, A substantial revival in Australian trade is undoubtedly on foot.
New openings occur in fresh directions, but the wheat growers still make the principal demands. Phenomenally low wheat prices during the depression changed the whole aspect of the tractor trade. Until a year or so ago, not more than half the number of tractors purchased in more prosperous times was in full use, many remaining completely idle, with a large proportion going out of repair.
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Nearly all the tractors sold in Australia are of overseas origin. In spite of bounties, Australian home manufacture has made little 'progress. As a result, bounty rates have been reduced and the amounts paid since`1928-9 have been small.
More Tractors in Use.
Figures obtained from a reliable source show an increase of 7,265 in the number of tractors employed in the six States, between June 30, 1933, and _June 30, 1934 (later figures are not available). The approximate numbers of tractors in use at the moment are;— New South Wales, 7,000 to 8,000; Victoria, 7,000 to 7,500; Western Australia, 5,000 to 6,000; Queensland, 6,000 to 6,500; South Australia, 5,000 to 6,000; Tasmania, 500 to 1,000. Distribution of business is fairly even throughout the State, with the exception of Tasmania.
America enjoys the lion's share of this section of Australia's overseas
trade. Although Australian farmers would like to buy British tractors and are asking for them, a good deal of sales effort on the part of British manufacturers will he necessary.
In some States, including South Australia and Western Australia, the crawler type of tractor is in demand, and the oiler is considered in authoritative quarters to have a good future in the Commonwealth. Generally the wheeled tractor is preferred by farmers, and track-layers by Government Departments, shire councils, road boards, and timber fellers.
The 20-25 h.p. machines are most popular with farmers, and 35 h.p. models with the authorities and timber fellers, and it is for these bigger outfits that the oil engine is favoured. Most of the British trade, at present, is in these larger machines. In South Australia nearly all the tractors employed by the highways department, forestry department and local authorities are stated to be of Caterpillar make.
It is usual to quote tractors according to their drawbar 'pull. As compared with horses, a 17-28 h.p. machine is equivalent to six horses to eight horses.