THE SEARCH FOR EASE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17608, 10 November 1922, Page 5

THE SEARCH FOR EASE.

THE PART Oi- THE RUBBER INDUSTRY. _ At the weekly luncheon of the "Wellington Rotary Club this week, the chairman introduced Mr J. B. Briasden, representative of the Australasian Dtmlop Co., as the speaker of the day. Mr Brinaden ppoke on the rubber industry. Ho traced the hibtory of rubber fr6m the timo when tho Spaniards first noticed the inhabitants of the New Indies playing with a ball vhicli was porous and light, and buunced higher than those used in Castile 400 years ago. The use of rubber presented numerous difficulties, and it was not until the discovery'of vulcanisation that almost insuperable defects w&re removed. The method of vulcanisation was simply to mis sulphur with natural rubber and submit it to a temperature as high as 248 degrees Fahrenheit. If about 30 per cent, of Bulphur was used, the product became ebonite, with neither extensibility nor elasticity. There were other methods of vulcanisation, but they wero rarely used. In 1830 England imported 24 tons of rub. ber, and in 1679 the quantity was 7530 tons. The reinvention by Duhlop of the pneumatic tyre gave the rubber industry its greatest impetus. The world e consumption of rubber was now enormous, and the capital and labour employed placed the industry in the foreihost rank. The making of rubber Was not for the man in a small way. It required great capital and a big plant, with the most up-to-date equipment for research and manufacture. In 1876, 2000 seedlings of the rubber plant wore sent to Ceylon, and* ten years later 200,000 seedlings were raised from them, and of the world's supply 90 per cent, was now British grown. One of the great qualities of rubber was the property of'.Doing able to assimilate many different materia's, and he knew of 120 substances which could be compounded with it. Its power of shock absorption wja a hundred times greater than that of the finest spring steel, and its tensile exceeded 20 tons per square inch. : f:'-ltx. conclusion; Mr Brinsden asked what was tho nim and hop© of industry P Consciously or unconsciously sought ...throughout. the ages, it was ease.""Tho primal savage who fashioned his weapons, slew his fellow that he might bo free from attack and be at ease*' he said; .. "Why do we toil, why: do w© strive, but to! rest and be comfortable, in .mind, body, or spirit? Even ithougjr the toil became our pleasure and we find joy in the combat, yet is that our ease? Now, the modern: world is' everywhere oppressed by a multitude of uncushioned shocks. The advance oi mechanical science has filled'the earth and. the air with undamped vibrations. The modern oily trembles with the crash and roar of the subway, and elevated raijroids. Our streets are paved to* the hardness of steel, jamng ouiv bodies at every step/ These things are vic[ous ip their physical and mental effects. And it is not surprising to find .that already the brain of man has reacted to this new menace and taken definite stepa towards thwarting it. And {his great industry is the. one of all others which is contributing most to the attainment of this universal aid and aim—ease." (Applause.>