RATIONING OF TYRES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23626, 1 May 1942, Page 6

RATIONING OF TYRES

♦ PLAN ANNOUNCED NEW PROCEDURE FROM. TO-DAY (F.A.) WELLINGTON, April 30. The Minister for Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) released to-day details of the tyre rationing plan, which comdfc inlb operation immediately. "TK3. occupation by the Japanese of Malaya, Dtitch Ehst Indies, Thailand, and Indo-China has given them access to a very large proportion of the world’s rubber supplies,” said the Minister. “To conserve rubber supplies for the manufacture of tanks, aeroplanes, ships, trucks, tractors, Bren carriers, and the many hundreds of articles for the successful prosecution of the war, rigid restrictions on the sale and use of tyres have been put into effect in the Allied countries. “In Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and the United States tyres are obtainable for only the most essential transport needs. For example, in the United States the quota of tyres being released is only 9 per cent, of normal consumption. ■ “It is obvious that, the sale and use of tyres in New Zealand must be similarly restricted if we are to avoid a complete breakdown in essential transport. No longer will the owner of a private car or non-essential business or commercial vehicle be able to buy new tyres or tubes, or have them retreaded. Some new tyres and retreading facilities will be available for essential vehicles.” The eligibility list of vehicles for tyre permits, the Minister added, is as follows:

Cars operated by essential Government services; doctors, visiting nurses, or veterinary surgeons, and which are used principally for professional services: clergymen. Vehicles used exclusively for the following purposes: ambulances and hearses; police; fire brigades; public health and sanitary services; mail services; construction, manufacture and maintenance of defence facilities and requirements where no other means of transport are reasonably available. Tyres will not be made available for large cars where small cars can perform the service.

Vehicles on public road passenger service (including school buses and taxis, but excluding rental cars and tourist and sight-seeing services) where other means of transport are not reasonably available. Commercial vehicles used exclusively for the following purposes where no other means of transport are reasonably available: cartage of wood and coal; construction or maintenance of public roads; cartage of material and equipment for the construction or maintenance of public utilities: cartage of material and equipment for the construction and maintenance of essential production facilities; cartage essential to render roofing, plumbing, heating, and electrical repair services; cartage by licensed public carriers on a fully rationed basis; cartage by farmers of material and equipment essential for farming between the farm and nearest railway station or source of supply, and farm produce between the farm and the nearest butter or cheese factory, railway station, or point of disposal; cartage of raw materials, semi-manufactured goods, and finished products, including foods, provided that no approval will be given for tyres to be used on a truck used principally for (a) the cartage of commodities to the ultimate consumer for personal, family, or household use—excepting milk —or (b) the cartage of materials for construction and maintenance except as specially provided; on farm tractors or other farm implements, other than cars, for the operation of which tyres, casings, or tubes are necessary; on industrial, mining, and construction equipment, other than cars or trucks, for the operation of which rubber tyres, casings, or tubes are essential. To Obtain Tyres “To obtain a tyre or tube or have a tyre retreaded, the owner of a vehicle coming within the above classifications must obtain two permit forms from his dealer or the approving officer, fill them in and sign them and have them signed also by the supplier of the tyre or tube, or in the case of a retread, by the retreader, said the Minister. “He must then submit the forms to an approving officer. The approving officers are the district officers of the Transport Department in the four main centres and the traffic inspectors of the Transport Department in places outside Jhe four main centres. The -same procedure must be followed before a user may fit any tyre or tube which he may have in his possession, excepting that no dealer’s signature is necessary. “No approval will be given to purchase a new tyre if the worn one is suitable for retread. It is essential that operators do not wear tyres beyond the retreading point, and that they conserve their tyres in every pos-