SHORTAGE OF BALING WIRE AND TWINE

Chronicle (Levin), 6 January 1948, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF BALING WIRE AND TWINE

WELLINGTON, Jan. 6. With hayrhaking the fundamental need in the drive for greater agriculturai production, a sCrious situation has developed because of the shortage of wire and iwine for baling purposes. Details of the shortage have beeh advised to the Government by Federated Farmers ih the Wairarapa and Mid-Canterbury districts. Replying to Federated Farmers, the Minister of Industries ana Commerce, Mr. Nordmeyer, said he was most concerned that baling materials were not readily available throughout the country. He was sure tnat manufacturers, importers 'and merchants were makmg every effort to make as wide a distribution as possiole. Specific instances in the Wairarapa had been supplied where contractors were without baling twine — five farmers alone in that district need twine for from 85,000 to 95,000 bales of hay. Orders have had to be refused because there is no chance of their fulfilment. The situation in Mid-Canteroury is no oetter. 4 The Minister, replying, said the sihgle ply twine made in New Zealand was produced in the South island in buik and forwarded to ohe Roruh 'Island, but shipping'delays had created difficuines. - A small quantity of sisal twine prodUced in Aucxland was sold on the open market. Small suppiies of Wire and twine were expected from oVerseas shortly. The Minister said the difficulties had been pointed out to manufacturers, who were makihg every efi'ort to supply a quota of twine, particularly to the automatic picxup operators, while sisal twine was being distriblited to augment tne Wire suppiies.