FENCING WIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1941, Page 8

FENCING WIRE

PURCHASES abroad DISTRIBUTION METHODS. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. tßy Telegraph—Press Association. ‘ WELLINGTON. This Day. | The procedure for the importation i and distribution of fencing wire re- ; quired by the farming community was i outlined last evening by the Minister I of Agriculture, Mr. Barclay. "Since the outbreak of war many I difficulties have been experienced by j importers in securing supplies of fencing wire from the United Kingdom and : Australia, as these markets have been ! closed to New Zealand orders for some I considerable time," said the Minister. "It has therefore become necessary to ’ purchase fencing wire from Canada ' and the United States of America. To meet farmers’ requirements during the ensuing 12 months, my predecessor in office appointed an advisory commit-; tee, representing the various Govern-: ment departments concerned, and in- ' eluding a nominee of the New Zealand ' Grain Seed and Produce Merchants' ; Federation and a nominee of the New ; Zealand Hardware Merchants’ Guild. This committee, which meets regularly ; in Wellington, arranges for the importation of wire for primary industries' and organises the distribution of sup-, plies on an equitable basis within New : Zealand.

"In the main centres representatives of wire distributors have formed fencing material associations, appointing a secretary and an allocation committee from their members. On the whole, merchants are aware of this organisation and merchants desiring supplies of wire should apply to the local secretary. who will see that all past importers of wire receive a share of the wire allocated to their districts. Farmers and other users of fencing wire should place their orders with the local merchant with whom they have been in the habit of doing business. "The committee is confining its attention to fencing wire of gauges 7 to 10 inclusive and barbed wire. Importers of other classes of wire should apply for the necessary import, licences in the usual way.

"The Price Tribunal has fixed the maximum retail selling price of American plain fencing wire at 395. 6d. a cwt. al Auckland. Wellington and Dunedin, and 40s. a cwt. at Christchurch, which represents a reduction of Is. a cwt. on the present retail prices. "The maximum retail price of American barbed wire is to be 435. and 435. 6d. a cwt. respectively, which provides a corresponding reduction in price. The retail sale price at other centres will be at these prices, plus actual transport cost. A price order is being issued by the Price Tribunal.”