THE RUBBER SHORTAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 10, 30 September 1942, Page 6

THE RUBBER SHORTAGE

POSITION IN UNITED STATES

TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS

"At the start of thi.s year the total stock of rubber in the United States was saicl to be three-quarters of its war requirements for 1942, so that the use of rubber for ordinay civilian goods had to be practically eli-* mina-ted," said Mr G. C.^Seers, a Wellington business man', avlio recently returned from a visit, to America. "Most of the ordinary public would not get retreads or new tyres for at least months. A Government .salvaging campaign brought in over HHJjUOu ions of rubber. the bulk brought in ny children. The? use of plastics in place of .some meals and u...:.? w developing* very rapidly. As synthetic rubber the attempt was » pru<luce at any price something that would be better than having wooden wheels Factories; for the production of neariy 800,000 tons of synthetic rubber n year were already built or under construction. "The rubber position was bad and would be worse before it improved, which would be a matter, p :>t oi' months, but. of year-. "There was plentof i;olr .-l and fusi oil in tI:C United States everywhere cxcept on the .\fl iii'.'c seaboard, where it v, as [n short snpply owing to transport;-lion di!ficultic'S. T 'nt petrol would have to be rationed op the only prael ica! 111'.'thod of s: ' 'yes. Tin American public lake kindly to ran oiling." he. cane!uded.