AGRIMOTOR NOTES.
Page 20
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The 1920 Tractor Trials.
/_ T IS HOPED that the prospective clash of tractor trials in 1920 between tue Royal Agricultural
Society of England and the Society of Motor ioanufacturers and Traders will be avoided. One matter, at any rate should receive immediate atten• tioh from the promoters on both sides. A preliminary agreement should be arrived at pending further negotiations between the ' two bodies that, in the ea.rent of no arrangement between the two societies being possible and, if both definitely decide to organize trials and carry them through separately and independently, the dates of the two fixtures shall ' be as far removed as possible. Some difficulty will be met with even in the endeavouring to arrive at such an apparently simple agreement as this, because there is no time of the year so suitable for conducting tractor trials as the early autumn. By this time the harvest has been completed and the autumn ploughing has scarcely commenced; consequently It is more easy-to obtain a site than at any other time of the year. •Besides, farmers are not so busy from about the middle of September to the middle of October. Harvest is finished and the important ploughing and sowing operations have not begun. Farmers -have more time and inclination to attend such functions. At no other time of the year could an attendance approaching in numbers that of 1919 .at Lincoln be expected. May is a good Month for agricultural shows, but most of the land by this time-would be under crop, and neither of the societies..woulcl be able to arrange for April, the interval between now and then being. too short. So that, if both fixtures take place, the one in September and the other in October, in order to take advantage of the best time of year for the purpose, either or both societies will suffer as a result, both in the attendance (for farmers will not be likely to attend both functions if held within a mAth of each other) and the number of entrants (because, in view of present labour difficulties, it would be quite impossible for firms to convey their
machines from the one place to the other in so short a space of time, presuming that they can afford to give up the amount of time necessary for exhibiting on these occasions). If it is determined that both events shall take place, the most practical suggestion that can be made in regard to obviating the ,dates falling too closely together is that while one demonstration might take place in October, the other might be arranged for early August. This would not be ideal, as it would only allow an interval of two months. But the end of July and the beginning of August does come between what the old folks used to call "the two harvests," that is baleen haymaking and corn harvest. No doubt a fair attendance could be secured, especially if the season turns out to 'be a good one anci farmers are able to complete haymaking early, and it Would have the advantage of enabling tractors to be demonstrated working with the self-binder, and farmers would possibly see machines working in hot weather. The one great disadvantage relating to this suggestion is that considerable difficulty would be experienced in obtaining a site large enough for the ploughing and cultivating trials, as tractor trials cannot be conducted in a green field like an agricultural show.
, Before passing on to consider other suggestions, let us now face, briefly, but frankly, the position of the two societies. In so doing we must. keep constantly in the forefront of our minds the welfare of both the industries concerned, namely, agriculture and the motor tractor industry. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is a trade organization pure and simple, and it is a very strong and powerful body. It is modern, vigorous and active, and has already held one very successful trial of motor tractors. There is no doubt on the score of efficiency and if trials were arranged for the middle of September, there would for certain, be a good number of entries and, coming before the Royal Society in date, the attendance would be good, also,
• though, perhaps not quite . so satisfactory as last year. The S.M.M. and T. also has this advantage over the Royal Society that the concerns comprising a considerable part of its niembershipare also the people who enter tractors at any trials. Against this latter fact must be placed another fact, which is that the tractor Manufacturers have, in the agricultural organizations, another organized industry to contend with, and it will be a clear consideration of this that will decide whether the motor trade shall follow its established precedents. and organize its own tractor show and demonstration, or whether the R.A.S.E. shall do it. .
Now for a Word or two on the position of the Royal, Agricultural Society. In the first Place, it is an oldestablished society, which has always conducted trials of all new agricultural inventions that have beenmade -since its, inception ; its verdict on any new implement carries .very great weight in the agricultural world, and many farmers are awaiting its pronouncement on the motor tractor. (This is a matter of concern to:the motor trade.) The next important fact is that the Royal Society announced its intention: of: holding such trials as are now proTic•sed; before the S.M.M. and T. trials of last September were held. To be more nearly precise, the. announcement-appeared about the same time as that of the 5.111.M. and T. for its 1919 trials. Further, the decision to postpone the trials for a year was made in order to give the British manufacturers time to get machines ready, thus ensurirg fair coinpetition between British and Americans: With these facts in mind, it is needless to say that a clash between the two societies.would be most regrettable and that it ought to be prevented. And, here, one or two suggestions present themselves. That of holding joint trials and,demonstrations this year has already been made? and the suggestion is one worthy of the most serious consideration, and we have little doubt that it will receive the atten
tion of bothparties concerned. If, however, the Royal desires to conduct its trials on lines different from that of the S.M.M. and T., this may not be possible, For instance, the former may want a competi tion, whilst the latter may not, and as there is something to be said for both, it would in such a case be necessary for each society to arrange its own trials separately. site suggestion of one of the societies "standing down " this year may arise. If it does, one would need to ascertain whether the R.A.S.E. trials are intended to be an annual event, or for 1920 only. If the latter the &SCA. and T. may in the interests of both industries concerned decide to postpone its show until 1921. Or on the other hand if it would not be likely that a clash would occur in future years, it may be advisable that the two functions should take place.' Provided the dates were not too near and the sites in near proximity the risk might well be taken. It would be a pity for the S.M.M. and T to be deprived of any, support in these undertakings, which provide such splendid educational facilities in demonstrating the usefulness of the farm tractor. At the same time, the R.A.S.E. must be given a chance of fixing its event, because the farming community will lose many. of its prejudices against the tractor all the sooner if this society is able—as we are sure it will do— to pronounce favourably on the appliance.
In present circumstances of labour difficulties, shortage of materials, and the heavy booking of orders; it would seem to be advisable that two shows• this year should be avoided. Should it be possible to coalesce forces for the purpose, so much the better. If neither, and both shows are held, then at least two months must elapse between the dates, and one affair should be arranged for Southern or Western England, while the other should be held in the North or in Scotland. This would mean heavy transport work for the entrants, but it would ensure a goodattendance at each of the trials. The suggestion of Scotland for a site is, in one sense, quite good. There have been no trials there on. a large scale since the Highland Agricultural Society's tests and demonstration in 1917—held in November by the way. The business of going there would, however, fall to the S.M.M. and T., as Scotland is Outside the province of the R.A.S.E.