RUBBER AND PAPER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 23, 27 July 1942, Page 4

RUBBER AND PAPER

NEED FOR SALVAGE

RESPONSIBILITY ON ALL

On all sections of the community rested the responsibility of conserving rubber and paper and of salvaging every scrap of used rubber and paper, stated the Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Sullivan) last night. Over 90 per cent, of the world's raw rubber was temporarily in enemy hands, he said; wood pulp for making paper could not be obtained from Sweden and supplies of paper from Canada were limited because ,of the Isick cf shipping space. Stressing the paramount importance of rubber in waging war, Mr. Sullivan said that 75 tons of rubber went into a modern battleship. A heavy tank used 17001b of rubber. For the Flying Fortress bombers just over half a ton of rubber was required for the self-sealing petrol tanks. Each landing wheel took 961b of rubber, and each inner tube 55i-lb. The rubber dinghy included in the equipment took 291b of raw rubber. In the fighter class planes like the Kittyhawk and the Spitfire each required 901b of rubber for the fuel tank alone. Those were just a few of the thousand vitally important uses for rubber. SYNTHETIC PRODUCTION. : There was host of "ifs" associated | with the production of synthetic rubber. Assuming the production schedule was maintained, peak production of synthetic rubber would not be secured before 1944. Although reclaimed rubber could not be used by itself) but must have a proportion of new rubber used with it. its use helped to minimise the demand on the limited stocks available. Old gum boots, garden or other hose, milking machine rubber-ware, tyres, tubes, rubber mats, worn-out tubing, tern rubber gloves, rubber shoes, sandals, crepe-soled footwear, old hot water bottles, were required for reclamation to manufacture into many essential articles. Tyres manufactured from' reclaimed rubber would give reasonable service, and reasonable service was better than no service at all. Every ounce of rubber destroyed amounted to assistance to the enemy. COLLECTION POINTS. Garages, service stations, tyre dealers and retreaders, and dairy factories were authorised to accept scrap rubber, and the waste committee in each district was also co-operating. Referring to paper salvage, Mr. Sullivan said that New Zealand mills were able to repulp and refabricate 16,000 tons a year. The question of collection was receiving attention, but all should do their utmost without waiting. Old rubber should be taken to the nearest collecting point. If the headmaster of the local school were communicated with boys would be sent to collect waste paper. Every por:;p of paper ;h?-t could be rcpulped was needed.