OLD RUBBER

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 249, 18 July 1942, Page 6

OLD RUBBER

Every Scrap Urgently Required DESPERATE SITUATION "The rubber situation is simply desperate and the grave shortage gives rise to many problems,” said the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, in .'in appeal for old rubber for reclamation. He added that in 193 S the. United Nations controlled 100 per cent, of the world’s supply of crude rubber; in 1942 they had control of only 8.9 per cent, leaving 91.1 per cent, in the hands of the Axis Bowers. These were startling figures and their message was plain. Mr. Sullivan said a joint statement issued by the Federal production and transport heads in the United States showed that 30,000 tons of synthetic rubber was the most that could be expected this year, and the production of 350.000 tons would be a miracle in 1943, but even so, all that amount would be required for the war effort. “The repercussions of the rubber shortage have made it vitally necessary for New Zealand to conserve to the limit all the available supplies of .rubber,” said Mr. Sullivan. "To that end, therefore, the Scrap Rubber Control Notice has been gazetted. This notice specifies the types of scrap rubber which must be salvaged, aud It also prohibits the destruction of any scrap rubber. The items so listed are comprehensive and exclude only vulcanite in the field of manufactured articles. The notice also prohibits the use of any motor-vehicle tyre or tube, or any other article whatsoever that is substantially made of rubber, except far the purpose it was originally made for. “In some respects the position-so far as supplies are concerned can be alleviated by the use of reclaimed rubber*. At best this can only be a palliative, but in the urgency of our need even a palliative is welcome. We want every scrap of old rubber we can get. Rubber in any form or condition.is more than valuable —it is precious. Throughout the country there are quantities of old garden hose, tyres, tubing, gumboots, football bladders, sandshoes, sandals with crepe soles, hot water bottles, mats, milking machine rubberware —a variety of articles no longer useful in themselves. Today New Zealand needs those articles. The rubber can ba reclaimed and used to maintain industry in production; used to furnish vitally necessary articles. Old rubber must not be destroyed under any circumstances. The people can help the country, can aid the allied nations along the road to victory by salvaging all old rubber.” The National Council for Reclamation of Waste Material, garages, service stations and dairy factories were authorized to collect rubber. “The collection is on a voluntary basis.” said Mr. Sullivan. “The public is asked to contribute what is valueless to them, but is of value to the country’s war effort. The various collecting agents will be reimbursed only for out-of-pocket expenses involved in hapdling, and the scrap will be sold in the main to the two reclamation works situated at Auckland and Christchurch respectively. In the event of scrap being available surplus to our needs it will be shipped overseas in exchange for manufactured rubberware. Any surplus funds accruing will be donated to the patriotic fund.” STORAGE SPACE WANTED Collection of old rubber articles by the Wellington committee of the National Council for Reclamation of Waste Material is not likely to be undertaken energetically -till more space for their storage has been obtained. The Lombard Street depot is barely adequate for the reception of the waste paper that the committee is now collecting, _ and the committee has learned that it is unwise to invite a flow of material before provision has been made for its safe storage. A great quantity of waste rubber is expected to come to light when the drive for it starts.

A second reason why new premises are desired is that the space in Lombard Street could be used for an extension of the ' Allied, Services Club. The waste material depot is in the basement of the building in which the club has been established, and part of the floor that is now the depot was used as a private dining-room attached to the restaurant that was the predecessor of the club. The Wellington waste committee and. the national council are co-operating in an endeavour to get a new depot.