TYRE OUTLOOK POOR

Chronicle (Levin), 20 March 1947, Page 4

TYRE OUTLOOK POOR

? Lifting of Restrictions Claimed Unfikely Though many people are anticipating the lifting of tyre restrictions " within thie next few months, it was learnt from an authoritative oource yesterday that the possibil.ty of the Government taking such action • this year *was - "most remote." , . , There was amniversal shortage of tyres, and the Government was reported to bc having considerable difficulty in obtaining guarantees for the delivery' of prders. He considered the- tyre position to be most acute, stating that it was now more diffieult to obtain approval qf applications for permits than it was six months ago. "Quotas to dealers have been cut down considerably since 194§," }ie ud4edThere might be a tempprary improvement in the position next month as shipments are expected, but there will be only sufficient tyres arriving on these ships to cope with outstanding permits, which have been held up for over six months. Even truck tyres, not under permit, will be diffieult to obtain, particularly 10 ply sizes such as 34 x 7, 825 x 20 and 32 x 6. The main sourees pf supply for tyres, notably Canada, America, Great Britain and Australia, were unable to export in any quantity £t the present time. Production in Britain and Europe was being held up through coal shortages. Canadian and United States plantswere troubled with strikes, the former country being " pow severn months behind in tyre production, and India had imposed a restriction on the exportation of tyres. In regard to supplies from the United States, it was improbable that more than giant tyres for farm implements and road patrol vehicles would be received. Supplies have been arriving from Australia, but that country was not disposed to the exportation to. a counry such as New Zealand,* which through the establishment of its own factories would not be a prospective peace-time market. Apart from these factors, Australia was having difficulty in prpducing sufficient tyres for her own needs. There was a supposition among owners of older models of cars that such tyre sizes as 19, 20 and 21 would not be available when normality was reached. These owners could be assured of a reasonable supply of these odd sizes.. Though they would not be made in New Zealand, they would be imported. The production of synthetic tyres would cease as soon as pure rubber tyres were available in • quantity, but synthetic tubes would continue to be produced. Bespite the raising of the restrictions, on the sale of tubes, there was an acute shortage in most popular sizes. Only those dealers who had stocks on hand when the restriction was lifted were able to give immediate satisfaction to their eustomers, but he understood that with every order for tyres a 40 per cent. equivalent in tubes would be made.