RUBBER SALVAGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 176, 28 July 1942, Page 6

RUBBER SALVAGE

MINISTER'S APPEAL

ORGANISATION NEEDED

"The rubber situation is simply desperate and the grave shortage gives rise to many problems." This statement was made during the weekend by the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, when he was making a public appeal for old rubber for reclamation. He said that the sort of thing that was wanted was garden or other hose, old gum-boots, milk-ing-machine rubber ware, tyres, tubes, rubber mats, rubber gloves, rubber shoes, sandals with crepe soles or old hot-water bottles. He urged people to send in to the nearest delivery points what they had of waste rubber, stating that all the retail motor trade businesses were authorised to accept the public's contributions.

From inquiries made in Auckland to-day no proper organisation has yet been set up. About a month ago garage proprietors promised to help by becoming receiving depots, but since then no active work has been done, it being stated that the authorities in Wellington had so far not fixed a price to be paid for rubber goods such as tyres and tubes. In Australia doubts were recently raised whether rubber manufacturers would benefit by the free use of rubber scrap or waste collected under a Government scheme. It was officially stated, however, that goods so offered would be a free gift to the Commonwealth Government, which would charge the rubber companies a standard price fixed some time ago to apply as between collectors of second-hand tyres and the manufacturers. No official announcement has yet been made in New Zealand on this important point. Search Under Houses Garage proprietors interviewed all had the same story to tell: Nothing in the way of proper organisation had been attempted so far. "The garages are the logical people for the Government to look to," said one proprietor. "Old tyres for the most part are left in garages when new tyres are purchased, but 1 undertake to say that thousands of tyres and tubes could be found under houses, in backyards and old workshops and on vacant sections. Rubber is not easily disposed of. It's odour when burning deters many people from disposing of it in that way, and tyres and tubes are simply left lying around." Salvage operations should be immediately placed on a commercial footing, said a business man. He thought prices should be fixed. Used rubber should be treated as a raw material essential for war purposes. A central depot was required and arrangements made for collection. Collection and Storage Another business man who has given some thought to the problem suggested that the Government should make the Internal Marketing Department responsible for collections and storage in Auckland. "The Department has a huge store in the clity," he said. "It is fully staffed and seeing that the honey crop has failed and the accommodation needed for that commodity will not be required this season, the space could well be used for rubber salvage. That would solve a part of the problem at least."

What is the use of appeals without organisation behind them " said another commercial man. "Will the ladies of the community whose small children have been using old tyres as hopps make a necklace of one and bring it into town; or will she keep Johnnie home from school some morning and let him bowl an old tyre into the city? The salvage business must be properly organised and a price fixed for the various types of rubber brought to the depots.