DUNLOP-PERDRIAU

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 12

DUNLOP-PERDRIAU

WHEELS AND TYRES

The chairman of the Dunlop-Perdriau Rubber Company, Ltd., Mr. W. A. Watt, said, at the annual meeting of shareholders in ' Melbourne recently, that, because of the difficulty of ensuring a supply of suitable steel in Australia, the directors had deferred a proposal to manufacture wheels and rims for motor vehicles., Mr. Watt said that the board had decided that before proceeding further in beginning production of. tyre cord material, it would review the proposal, after discussion with the Commonwealth authorities. Last year, Mr., Watt said, the company indicated its intention of beginning the manufacture of wheels and rims for motor vehicles.. Subsequently the general manager of the company,, Mr Bartlett, visited the United. States and Canada, and reported fully' on the proposal. Mr.- Baf tlett- emphasised the difficulty of obtaining .supplies of the right class of-high-grade steel for this enterprise, and pointed out that mistakes had been -made by some manufacturers overseas in using, .as raw material, steel that did not possess ail the qualities necessary. . The chairman added that in England he investigated the proposed inauguration of, tyre cord -production in Australia, butf'as .-ihe success of the industry depended on tariff arrangements, the/board/ had decided to consult the Commonwealth authorities before proceeding further with the proP°The quality of the.cotton content of the modern -pneumatic tyre was of great importance, and the company s technicians had •no < doubt that this could be ensured. The company, however, intended to make quite certain of the economic basis of this specialised industry, and particularly whether | this raw material could be produced as cheaply in Australians in Great Bn-i tain.