RUBBER SHORTAGE FOR THREE YEARS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 7

RUBBER SHORTAGE FOR THREE YEARS

BAD PROSPECT 111 VS.

Committee Finds "Gross Misadministration"

Rec. noon. WASHINGTON, May 20, No rubber will be available for civilian use for at least three years. This is the view expressed in a formal report presented to the Senate by Senator Truman's investigating committee on the rubber position. The committee declares that there has been gross misadministration of the rubber situation, resulting in a most serious outlook. The factors responsible are:— (1) An orgy of rubber consumption by automobile manufacturers, who last year, anticipating a shortage, produced the unprecedented quantity of 7Gn,000 tons of finished goods for hoarding. (2) The reduction by Mr. Jesse Jones. Secretary of Commerce, of the proposed production of synthetic rubber in 19 11 from 100,000 tons to 10.000 ions. The fact that Dutch and British j financial intere.-ts prevented expan- : sion ol production in order to mainta i n pr< ifi ts. ; _ U> The ill-famed cartel, by which ■Standard Oil "engaged in activities I helpful for the Axis and harmful for the Allies." j The committee views the future pessimistically, and points out that relief can be anticipated only from synthetic rubber, while guyule cannot. contribute to the present war. The committee further doubts whether the programme to produce o'jO.OOO tons of svnthctic rubber in 10115 and (ion.ooo* tons in 1011 will be successful.