MOTOR TYRE POSITION

Chronicle (Levin), 20 July 1946, Page 4

MOTOR TYRE POSITION

-Press Association

RATIONING STILL NECESSARY

By Telegrayh—

WELLINGTON, July 19. .An erroneous impression existed; among a, seetiorf of inotor vehicle users,that sufficient t vres wero available in New Zealand at present. .to warrant the removnl of certain sizes i'rom rationing controls, said the JMinister of Supply, Hon. I). G. Sullivan, tonight. He added that impression had been inspired largely because of improvements in overseas shipments but the actual position was that the quantities in tvres and sizes which had come forward so far, were not neariy sufficient to meet re((uirements under rationing. "It should be realised there were more than 150 tvpes and sizes of tvres required to meet the needs of the 500,000 licensed vehicles," said M r. Sullivan. "While New Zealand had been allocated a substantial portion of the United Kingdom's export quota. this will not allow rationing to be lifted. Australia, from whom New Zealand obtains the bulk of its tyres, is not yet in a position to increase her export quota." He added that a limited supply liad been obtained from Canada and the trade was making inquiries in~the United States. "The Govevitment has no intention of mafntaining* tyre rationing a day longer than absolutely necessary, " said the minister. The trade .was kept con- ' stantly informed of the situation. It was possible to increase district quotas in certain sizes for July and the Minister gave his assurance that as supplies beeame more plentiful, district quotas would be increased accordiuglv.