SHORTAGE OF WIRE

Chronicle (Levin), 23 November 1946, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF WIRE

Federated Farmers (M'tu) has received the following reply from the Minister of Industries and Commerce, in regard to fencing and baling wire: — "4s you probably know, Messrs" Wire Distributors Ltd., Wellington, the merchants ' buying and distrilniting organ isation, import and distribute fencing and baling wire, and have thousands ot tons on order overseas, some ordered as far baek as 1945, and still uiulelivered. Due to g world-wide deterioration 'in the production of steel," the output of wire rods has been considerablv reduced and wire drawing plants in every country are unable to fulfil the orders they have in hand, owing to inadequate supplies of rods. We have endeavoured j in every way possible to assist Messrs Wire Distributors in securing delivery of their outstanding orders, niu] as result of our efforts small shipnients are received from time to time and distri- ' buted to merchants in rotation, but they are insufficient to enable stocks to ] be aeeumulated. In an emdeavour to 1 locate new sources of supply for Wire Distributqrs Ltd., we have approached | Belgium, S.wqden, Czeehosloyakia, f'ana- j da, U.K. and Australia without success.| From the U.S.4- we succee/Ied in obl|J taining 1500 tons df fencing ivire— tb.e,, authorities there eould spare fofr! export. Canada has ipiposed a prohv'j bition on export of steel and steel pro- \ ducfs, and Australia, owing to the d.e- j mands of the home market, is unable to increase the present small allocation be- ' ing made to New Zealand. The United | Kingdom is similarly situated and un ! able to fully meet the needs of both j the home and export markets. We are | maintaining elose eontact with all the j wire producing eountries and continu- ] ing our representations in the hope that ! as the position improves overseas and | additional steel becomes available te i wire drawing plants, increased quanti- i tios ean be shippod against outstanding i New Zealand orders, and additional | orders placed on new sources of pun ! nly." j