U.S. RUBBER COMMITTEE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13056, 26 January 1943, Page 3

U.S. RUBBER COMMITTEE

SURVEYS SITUATION FOR THE PRESIDENT

■ Important to public confidence in the handling of synthetic rubber production was the appointment a special three man committee to examine the entire picture, including the tyre shortage and report upon it. President Roosevelt himself named the committee, headed by B. M. Baruch, in whom was centralised procurement of military equipment during World War One. Other members are President Conant of Harvard University and President Compton of the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The committee promptly held its first meeting on a park bench in Washington. Baruch has been widely supported for greater responsibility as the man who succeeded in 1918 and, therefore, likely to succeed once again, and his associates are men of high repute. Whatever the committee reports, the public is likely to be satisfied that the findings are technically correct and non-political.

Directly related to synthetic rubber production is a matter in which the public has a close immediate interest. Tins is the supply of tyres for both passenger and commercial vehicles. The success of gasoline rationing as a means of forcing tyre conservation depends on the public's belief that rubber really . will be scarce in spite of future synthetic output. Thus far, conflicting pronouncements by various officials of the Government have not promoted that belief.

Best information at present, before the committee reports, is—-our stocks, of natural rubber, now being used entirely for military purposes,

will be gone at the end of 1943, and there is no expectation that the war will be over and new natural supplies available then. Synthetic production is expected to total 800,000 tons for 1944, but this will not be more than enough for military needs of that year. There is some synthetic production now and it is growing, but we have not yet reached volume. Net result probably will be, no new rubber of any sort for civilians. Conservation of present tyres is therefore vital to maintain the 20,000,000 cars and trucks which are conceded to be vital to U.S. motorised economy.

As one indication of the essential nature of motor transport, there are now over 54,000 communities served solely by highway., due to the gradual ripping up of unprofitable rail lines. '

Highway ehecks at such places as bridges and tunnels have indicated that gasoline shortages and rationing in the East have cut automobile use by as much as 30 per cent. A survey by the Rubber Manufacturers Association shows that, to keep all civilian passenger cars running through July 1, 1944, there will be required 30,300,000 recap jobs, 13,230,000 new tyres and 4,700,000 of the tyres built before the war and now held as inventory. This compares with upward of 35,000,000 replacement tyres sold in an ordinary year. No tube production is contemplated because there is a large inventory and tubes are repairable.