FARMERS GIVE EVIDENCE ON FENCING COSTS

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 January 1948, Page 4

FARMERS GIVE EVIDENCE ON FENCING COSTS

Evidence on the rise in the cost of fencing in the last 10 years and the present acute shortage of materials was given by the Wairoa district executive of Federated Farmers before the Royal Commission on the Sheep Industry. Details were cited of a fence erected last winter 15 miles by road from Wairoa with the fence line three-quarters of a mile from the road. The fence followed a good, clean spur with good digging. It consisted of six plain and one barbed wire and there were just under five posts to the chain. The cost for one mile was £549 17s. It was stated that all concrete materials—posts, foots, and blocks were bought at prices ruling before March 31, 1947. Supplies had recently been unobtainable, but local manufacturers estimated that if they were available the cost would be increased from £32 to £35-£37 a hundred. Present prices of birch posts were from £3O to £34, totara from £4O upward eluded concrete posts at £l3 a hunand silver pine £3B. The 1937 prices of materials indeed, totara £l9 a hundred, and silver pine £l6 a hundred. Battens had risen in price in 10 years from £1 Is to £2 6s a hundred, plain No. 8 wire from £1 Ils to £3 15s a cwt., and barbed wire from £1 14s to £4 18s a cwt. Labour costs had risen from 14s or 15s a chain to £1 3s a chain.