Sir W. Edģeasked the Minister of Agriculture what complaints he has received that the tractors supplied by his Department are not powerful enough to deal with heavy land; and whether in those cases, as heavier tractors on the market are available, he will authorise their purchase or their hire?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithSome county war agricultural executive committees have asked for a more powerful tractor than the Fordson for ploughing heavy land. These requests do not, however, appear to be based on actual experience of the latest type of Fordson, which is more powerful than earlier types, and is capable of ploughing the heaviest land, save in exceptional circumstances. As tractors heavier than the Fordson are not 525W manufactured in this country I do not propose to purchase any of them unless experience shows that such purchase is necessary. I hope that on very heavy land where heavier tractors or steam tackle are more suitable than Fordsons, these special requirements can be met by private contractors.