asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that present stocks of spare parts for Fordson tractors are in very short supply, and that ball-races, gears, etc., cannot now be obtained; and whether, in view of the national importance of maintaining all tractors in serviceable condition for food production purposes, he will say whether any survey of the stocks of spare parts has been made by his Department, and what efforts have been made to secure supplies of spare parts urgently required.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tractor Supplies.
asked the Minister for Supplies whether he will consider the advisability of making a survey of tractors and implements for the purpose of determining the expectancy of survival of parts that must be replaced in the near future, with particular regard to tractors on rubber tyres which are three years old and over, so that the possibility of replacement can be examined, or as an alternative, the provision of steel wheels for land work.
I will take questions Nos. 5 and 6 together. I am aware that certain spare parts for Fordson tractors are in short supply. Arrangements have been made to recondition or manufacture some of these parts here, and representations to secure the release of supplies from the United Kingdom have been made. A comprehensive survey of the stocks of spare parts for tractors and implements has not been made.
I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by a survey of all existing tractors and implements with a view to determining their future requirements of spare parts, even if such a survey were found to be practicable.
There is no possibility at present of procuring rubber tyres for tractors, and the provision of steel wheels for replacement purposes is being examined.
Would the Minister not consider seeking voluntary co-operation, or even employing compulsion, to induce persons with derelict tractors to turn them into some centre, so that the spare parts needed might be salvaged for a central pool, from which working tractors might be repaired?
Arrangements of that kind have been made by commercial organisations.
Is the Minister aware that no effective effort is being made at this moment to gather in the derelict tractors, of which there is quite a considerable number lying about the country; and that no effective effort will be made unless it is done under Government aegis and unless proper compensation is paid to the persons who have such tractors? If it is not done quickly, the tractors will simply rot away.
Does the Minister realise that there are certain spare parts, such as ball races, that cannot be made here and cannot be procured; that many tractors are immobilised at present; and that more tractors might have been immobilised but for the fact that a certain amount of cobbling has been done on them to keep them going for the time being? Does the Minister appreciate that it would be useful to know the types of parts that are necessary for a number of tractors and that it would not be very difficult to make a survey?
What good would it do? Does it add one to the number of spare parts in the country? Does it influence the position? It does not, not in the slightest.
Why?
In the case of any parts of which we are short, it will not help us in the slightest to gather in all the derelict tractors.
What effort is being made to get spare parts?
Every effort, but not with success.
I suppose the Minister is taking the tariff off?
There was no tariff on them.
There was a tariff on mowing machines and the Minister would not take it off.