TYRE RATIONING

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23714, 12 August 1942, Page 2

TYRE RATIONING

♦ FEATURES OF POLICY QUESTIONED

MOTOR UNION MEMBERS’

ATTITUDE

Comments on features of the Dominion's tyre rationing policy were made at the meeting of the executive of the South Island Motor Union last evening. Discussion arose on a letter from the Secretary of Supply (Mr L. J. Schmitt) stating that a central tyre advisory committee had been functioning for about three months and comprised two representatives of the retail motor trade, two of the tyie importers’ association, one of the Transport Department, and one of the Ministry of Supply. He considered that the committee was competent to deal with the problems and was better kept small and not extended by representatives from other bodies. The chairman (Mr W. R. Carey) said that the union was represented on the local oil fuel committee which handled tyre rationing, but it was the central committee which was the policy committee and the local one just carried out the job. Several members stated that the union should be represented on the central committee. The secretary (Mr P. Harvey) said that the need for rationing applied to trucks and heavy transport vehicles rather than ordinary cars. Mr J. S. Hawkes said that the stock of tyres for some of the older-type cars was apparently ample. It seemed a pity that they should be held, perhaps deteriorating in stores, and not be used.

The chairman said that there was reported to be a tremendous stock of some of the modern standard tyres for cars in the Dominion. He did not know why the position should be controlled by rule of thumb. If stocks were plentiful and the tyres not of use to transport vehicles, he did not know wliy they should not be used for cars. The executive supported a motion by Mr Carey that a delegate from each of the motor unions on the central tyre committee would be of considerable benefit to the motorists represented by the unions, and that the North Island Union be informed ot this view.

Another mailer which had been brought to his notice, said Mr Hawkes, was that many big lorries were going

about with tyres not properly inflated. He suggested that the Government and local bodies might be asked to instruct their inspectors to draw the attention of drivers to the greater wear and possible damage caused to tyres used in this condition. The suggestion was adopted.