CYCLE TYRES

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 3

CYCLE TYRES

END OF RATIONING BRINGS NO DEMAND GREY DEALER’S COMMENTS “The restrictions over the past 12 months were unnecessary and caused a lot of extra work when fire dealers could have rationed their stocks just as well themselves as the committee,” commented a leading Greymouth cycle dealer this morning. He was referring to the restrictions on the sale of tyres and tubes, for which, up till last week, applications for permits had to be made. In answer to questions by an Evening Star reporter, he stated that the removal of the necessity to apply for permits had made no difference to the sales of either tyres or tubes. Actually, he added, the supply position during the past three months had been very good and, as a result, no permits applied for on behalf of his customers had been declined by the rationing committee for some considerable time. A different position existed during the war, however, he declared, pointing out that of an average of 30 applications for new tyres and tubes made by him each week, from 15 to 20 per cent were declined. “Anyone trying to get two tyres had no chance,” he said. At one time, even if a permit were granted, the cyclist concerned had to wait up to three months or more before tyres were available for purchase. When the restrictions were introduced in 1942, the tyre position was desperate, the reporter was told. Though one shop had over 1000 tyres in stock they were reduced at an alarming rate and no replacements could be obtained. An improvement in stocks has been gradually effected during the last year or so, and lately the standand of tyres has improved. Less reclaimed rubber is being used and, with the removal of restrictions on the use of raw rubber,-more durable tyres and tubes can be expected on the market shortly. All rubber cycle requisites are now coming to hand in sufficient numbers and stocks on the whole are better than they have been for six or seven years. Several thousand applications lor permits were handled by the Grey District Tyre and Tube Rationing Committee, Messrs J. Graham, M. Olsen (later replaced by Mr O. Byrne) and W. Richmond, during the four to five years’ existence of the system, and, with practically a free hand given cycle dealers during the past year, between 80 and 85 per cent, of applications were approved. The committee has been thanked by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, for its services.