Shortage Of Horse Shoes

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14916, 2 March 1949, Page 2

Shortage Of Horse Shoes

Serious Position In Taneatua Tauranga Situation Little Better Following a request from a dairy factory in the Taneatua district to the Provincial Secretary of Federated Farmers, Bay of Plenty Province, Mr E. J. Vosper, for assistance in procuring horse shoes, investigation showed that the position was hardly less acute in the Tauranga district. When approached on the subject the Tauranga blacksmith, Mr C. W. Haua said that the present shortage was due to the closing down of the Auckland factory which had previously supplied the shoes. This closing he pointed out was due to the shortage of steel in New Zealand at the present time. Mr liaua explained that he had contracted to supply as many shoes as possible to the Taneatua factory but that he had a very small reserve and could not afford to release too many as there was still a large demand for shoes in the Tauranga area.

The need was perhaps more urgent ‘in Tancatua, it was pointed out, because a large number cf the suppliers to the factory, which manufactures, cheese, transported their milk from the farm by horsedrawn vehicles and because of number of drovers and musterers in that district. Eastern Bay of Plenty farmers also make more use of their horses as the nature of the 1 land is less adaptable to the mech{anical means so widely used for cultivation in the present day. } Mr Haua said that he intended to Ido what he could to assist by | making shoes from the materials he | had and that these, with those shoes I already in stock, would keep him ' supplied for about three months. Mr Haua pointed out that the nearest shoers were in Katikati and lTe Puke and that the demand in Tauranga for shoes was due to the widespread interest in ponies and hacks for pleasure or for competition in shows. Hardware merchants confirmed Mr Haua's statement, the last sup- ■ piles of shoes having been redeived ' about three months ago: A representative of one firm, when quesI tinned on the subject, pointed out ' that horse shoe nails and shoes had both been unprocurable for some j time as had been other smaller fittings used by farmers, such as gate hinges. I In an endeavour to obtain increased supplies of shoes the Bay of Plenty Province of Federated Farmers has referred the matter to the head office of the Federation in | Wellington.