THE PLASTIC AGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1943, Page 4

THE PLASTIC AGE

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY. MEANS OF INCREASING TRADE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, February 12. “Enthusiasts say that the-..coming age will, be known as the plastic age, and there is no doubt that the development of this industry will be a means of increasing trade between Great Britain and New Zealand,” said Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, addressing the Napier Chamber of Commerce. “It is not generally realised what plastics are going to mean to the world,” continued Sir Harry. "Plastics are produced from powders made from phenol (coal tar), casein (otherwise milk), and other chemical raw materials. The powders are, put into moulds under great heat and the result is a substance which is durable, hard, light and clear, and. which can be impregnated with any colour. It is unbreakable, and its uses are practically infinite. After the war almost everything will be made of it—among other things furniture which you can hit with a hammer and not break, which you cannot burn, and which will be almost everlasting,” he said. Sir. Harry stated • that cockpit covers of aeroplanes were now being made from plastic material, and there was no doubt it would be used for motor-cars, housing construction, shipbuilding and almost everything under the sun. . , “It will be a great asset in Great Britain s post-war house construction problem, for there one-fifth of the houses have been destroyed or damaged and, with plastic prefabricated into doors, walls, etc., in factories, it will be much easier to erect new dwellings quickly,” said Sir Harry. In New Zealand plastic would be very useful. He mentioned that resins were also being produced which would give to plywood qualities of greatly increased hardness and of resistance to heat and moisture, and in that direction there would be great developments in New Zealand. Another discovery of the plastic family referred to by the speaker was that of nylon, which, he said, was manufactured like silk thread. After the war it was likely that all silk stockings would be made of nylon, which had all the qualities of silk, but would not ladder so easily and would be durable and waterproof.