WIRE SUPPLY OUTLOOK GRIM

Chronicle (Levin), 24 January 1947, Page 8

WIRE SUPPLY OUTLOOK GRIM

NO EEX.1EF SEEN POK 1947 A gloomy prospect for tlie supply of fencing wire in New Zealand was presented in a cireular from the general secretary of Federated Farmers (Mr. A. P, O'Shea) to a meeting of tke Manawatu provincial executive of the Dairy Section, Federated Farmers, held in Palmerston North yesterday. The cireular, dated December 18, 1946, stated that there was some misunderstanding about the wire position, and to make matters clearer a letter from the chairman of a leading wire distributing firm was quoted. The letter read: "A statement which appeared in the Christchurch Press recently woukl indieate that some of your district Federated Farmers are not yct aware of the position regardipg baling and fencing wire. It is useJess your meinbers blaming the Government i'or not giving licences, and it is u sel.es tblaming Llie inerchants for not being able to supply wire. Vour members xhoul'd be told to blame the coal shortage and the steel shorlage and tlie h'oldup in overseas companies for tlie nonsnpply of wire. The position will be worse before it is better, and farmers can make up their minds tliat 1947 is going to be worse than any. of the war years. ' -Might I suggest tlip-t you make the position known to your district Federated Farmers, so that there wil! be no .ijisunderstanding during tlie ne.xt 12 months. This lirm is doing its utniost lo obtain whatever supplies can be hjid as tliey beconie available, but the recent strike in Anierica has caused the cancellation of 2,000,000 tons of steeJ to the United Kingdom, and this must liave its effeet 011 world supplies. America has recently bee.11 endeavourmg to purclia.se 30,000 tons of steel from Australia without result. "The wiiter discussed with Mr. Barclay, wlio is again leaving for Australia this week, tlie question of further supplies of baling wire from Australia, which orders wero placed in 1945. Mr. Barclay has promised to make representations to the Australian Government for the release of some additional supplies. We are not very hopeful. " (Jonsiderable discussion followed receipt of this cireular and several opinions 011 the inatter were expressed. The whole diflicultv, said Mr. ,J. T. A11drews, rested witli the shorlage of supplies coming from overseas countries, and tlie blame could not properly be fiinneil down to the Government. Although the muller rested ultimately 011 overseas supplies, the farmers' coinplaints rested with the method of ilistribution of what wire did come into ihe countrv, said .Mr. F. W. Harris. Most of the wire Janded was allocated to ihe Public. Works Department, the catcliment boanls, and secondarv industries, while the farmers' needs liad consistentlv been left last and their desperate need for fencing and baling wire passed over. After further dis ussion, it was resolved that the Government be approached to make a detennined eft'ort to get larger supplies of wire in'to Nevv Zealand.