SHORTAGE OF BALING WIRE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25051, 6 December 1946, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF BALING WIRE

STATEMENT BY COMPANY DIRECTOR Commenting on the discussion by the North Canterbury district of Federated Farmers on the shortage of baling wire, Mr L. H. Watt, a director of Wire Distributors, Ltd., the buying organisation for more than 200 merchant importers, said yesterday that although his company had placed substantial orders overseas for baling wire, only a small proportion had come to hand. Supplies received were mainly from the United Kingdom, and supplies were not available from the United States. Mr Watt stated that the restricted deliveries were not caused by Government control. An import licence had been issued covering all the baling wire ordered by merchants, and the shortage was caused entirely by the world shortage of steel. Although limited shipments were coming to hand periodically, little relief could be expected until the overseas position improved, Mr Watt added. During the last two years both the Government and Wire Distributors, Ltd. had explored every possible source of supply for baling wire, and orders placed in Australia in May, 1945, had not yet been delivered.