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Otago Daily Times, Issue 26636, 5 December 1947, Page 6

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FENCING WIRE SHORTAGE USE OF ALUMINIUM ALLOY PRODUCT P.A. NEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 4. The importation of wire made from aluminium alloy is being considered by Wire Distributors, Ltd., in an effort to alleviate the present shortage of fencing wire. Mr R. Masters, of Stratford, a director of the organisation, said tonight that although this wire was now being produced it was purely experimental and would take the place of barbed wire if satisfactory. Aluminium alloy might or might not prove universally satisfactory, said Mr Masters. For example, there was some doubt as to its suitability near the sea. It was also very light in weight, and the price in New Zealand would be about £250 to £260 a ton, so it would be no cheaper than barbed wire. “ Some of this new wire is now being offered to New Zealand merchants,” said Mr Masters. “If it is sought. Wire Distributors. Ltd., can get it. What quantity would be available is hard to say, but supplies of it should help to ease the present' wire shortage.” Wire of the type, he said, had never been imported into the Dominion, and whether it had been used overseas before he could not say.