TIRE SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1943, Page 3

TIRE SUPPLIES

GRANTING OF PERMITS IMPORTANT CHANGES ANNOUNCED. THE CAR POSITION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Important changes in the granting of permits for car tires were announced last night by the Minister of Supply and Munitions. Mr Sullivan, who also reviewed the situation in regard to the supply of motor-car and truck tires. He said that as a result of the visit of Mr H. G. Miller to America. England, and Australia, on the authority of the War Cabinet, and the resultant negotiations overseas on behalf of the Government, the truck tire position was definitely improved though, of course, the necessity for the utmost conservation of tires was of paramount importance. However, stocks on hand and coming forward were expected to be sufficient for the maintenance of essential heavy transport in the Dominion. “The postion in regard to new car tires, however, is still most difficult," said the Minister, “and it will not be possible for any increase to be made in the present quotas for vehicles coming within the eligibility list. It has not been possible to meet the required number of permits in some districts out of each month’s quota, so that an extension of the scope of the present eligibility list is out of the question. Nevertheless, the shortage in the car field has been relieved considerably' by an increase made in the quota for B grade retreads made from reclaim rubber now being manufactured in the Dominion from scrap rubber collections. Further relief to essential car users may be made possible through the local manufacture by a new .process of tires reconstructed from salvage tires.”

The car position was summarised by the Minister as follows:—Permits for new car tires (vill continue to be granted only to persons coming within the eligibility list, except that, should the quota in any particular area be satisfied, tires, left over in that month will be available to holders of petrol licences who are engaged in essential work but who do not qualify under the eligibility list. The prospects of relief under this heading. however, are very slight, and it is likely that only a small proportion of oil fuel licence-holders not on the eligibility list will secure new tires. The main alteration in the administration of the rubber tire position is in the field of retreads. Under the new procedure persons on the eligibility list will no longer automatically qualify for Agrade retreads where retreading of the tires is possible. These persons will continue to secure retreading permits, but it will be at the discretion of the local oil fuel committees which also are the local tire advisory committees as to whether A or B grade retreads are granted. Applicants who would prefer permits for “reconstructed” tires should specify this in their applications.”