RUBBER SHORTAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1942, Page 3

RUBBER SHORTAGE

NONE FOR CIVILIANS FOR THREE YEARS U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT. SURVEY OF CAUSES & OUTLOOK. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, May 26. Mo rubber will be available for civilian use for at least three years. This view is expressed in a formal report presented to the Senate by the Trumans Investigating Committee on the rubber situation,- resulting in a most serious outlook. The committee says the factors responsible are, in the first place an orgy of rubber consumption by automobile manufacturers, who last year, anticipating a shortage, produced an alltime high record of 766,000 tons of finished goods for hoarding. It is stated also that Mr Jesse Jones reduced a pi’oposed production of synthetic rubber in 1941 from 100,000 tons to 10,000 tons, with a view to maintaining profits. Another factor, it is added, is the ill-famed cartel, whereby the Standard Oil Company engaged in activities helpful for the Axis and harmful for the Allies. ■The report views the future pessimistically and points out that relief can be anticipated only from synthetic rubber, while the guyale substitute cannot contribute to the present war. The committee says the further programme to produce 350,000 tons of synthetic rubber in 1943 and 600,000 tons in 1944 will be successful.