RUBBER CONTROLS

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 7

RUBBER CONTROLS

STRIKES PREVENTED LIFTING RAW STOCKS STILL LOW (P.A.) AUCKLAND, December 20. An indication that the strike in Australia had prevented the lifting of the rubber controls in New Zealand was given by Mr A. M. Seaman, chairman of directors of Reid (N.Z.) Rubber Mills Ltd., when addressing shareholders at the annual meeting to-day. “In spite of various optimistic messages from overseas about the ending of all the troubles caused by the rubber shortage, the position in the Dominion is that stocks of raw rubber are very low,” said Mr Seaman. “ Substantial shipments are on the way, and would have been here some weeks ago but for the shipping delays arising from the regrettable industrial upsets in Australia. It had been confidently anticipated by the authorities that the rubber controls in the Dominion could be almost entirely lifted by the end of this month, and substantial additions to the release quotas of several important lines have already been made. In the meantime, further relief has been stayed and the general lifting of the controls must be delaved for an appreciable time longer.” Mr Seaman mentioned that the liberation of the main rubber producing countries came just in time to render it unnecessary for the company to change over from natural to synthetic rubber as its basic raw material. -