BARBED WIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 44, 24 April 1942, Page 5

BARBED WIRE

MILITARY REQUIREMENTS FARMERS' GENEROUS RESPONSE At last meeting of the Auckland Farmers' Union Executive several members related their experiences in collecting barbed wire for the Army Department. One northern representative stated that in his area a ton of wire in new condition had been found in a Maori shanty. The owner had died, and the Avork for which the wire had been intended was not proceeded with. He had not experienced the slightest difficulty in inducing settlers, to part with their Avire for military use, and in many cases they removed it from their fences in readiness for transit.

Mr J. H. Furniss (Waikato) said there seemed a possibility that those who parted with their wire willingly would be carrying the load for others who were not so public-spir-ited. The President, Captain H. M. Rushworth, replied that the military authorities would take forcibly from those who had not given voluntarily. The Union, in undertaking the task of collecting, was helping the fVrmv Department and at the same time ensuring that the farmer did not suffer any avoidable less or inconvenience. The practice, he said, was for an Army truck driver to be accompanied by another person whose duty it was to weigh and assess the value of wire taken and give a receipt to the farmer. In the meantime boundary fences adjacent to main roads were not interfered with, as this would involve serious losses of stock. Later on, more exacting calls might be necessary.

A member referred to stocks held by merchants and store keepers. The secretary, Mr A. E. Robinson, said the trouble was that when advice i-eaehed him of reported stocks the Information was. too vague to act upon. Tf member? who knew of any wire in store furnished him with the name of the individual or firm holding it he would promptly see lhat it was turned over to the military authorities.