USE OF BICYCLES

Grey River Argus, 16 June 1942, Page 4

USE OF BICYCLES

Severe Restrictions

CHRISTCHURCH, June 14, After the bicycle tyres now in use are worn out, the only persons who will be seen riding bicycles will be those who can prove that they no other means of getting to tneii place of work or education. This is made clear in a statement by the Hon. D.'G. Sullivan (Minister for Supply), who urged the need for New Zealanders to conserve all possible supplies of rubber and to ouy only immediate and essential requirements. “A scheme is being worked out to provide cycle tyres for cases where no other transport to the place of employment or education is available,” Mr Sullivan said. “Tyres for cycling for pleasure, or cycling when other kinds of transport are available will not be possible, I am sorry to say.” Mr Sullivan quoted Mr Eon Henderson, who is in charge of rubber production in the United States, as saying that the shortage of rubber was much worse than a shortage, it was a famine.

“And that famine vitally affects New Zealand,” Mr Sullivan said. “The gravity of the situation cannot be over-stressed. It would be impossible to over-emphasise the necessity for the maximum conservation of‘rubber. The use of available supplies for only vitally essential purposes, and even then on a greatly reduced scale as compared with normal consumption is the best we can expect. "I regret to have to say that there seems to be a tendency on the part of some farmers to hoard milkingmachine rubberware. Let me say with emphasis that such action is inimical to the best interests of the country. It is retarding production and so curtailing our ability to meet the needs of Great Britain. Any cases disclosed will be dealt with in the terms of the Emergency Regulations Act. ■ New Zealand will, be able to carry on with reasonable efficiency if users of rubberware will be content to purchase only immediate and essential requirements, and that applies to all sections of the community. Conservation to the utmost degree possible must be the basis on which rubber is used. Care of existing installations to ensure maximum wear is imperative.

“Even allowing for an annual production of synthetic rubber of between 100,000 tons and 300,000 tons during the next three years, and this hp says would require a miracle, Mr Henderson calculates that the United States will need 1,000,000 more tons of rubber, in these three years than will be available.

“Everyone can see how necessary it is to conserve our stocks of rubber in this country just as it is urgent and necessary in the United States. I know there have been complaints about the shortage of cycle tyres and I fully realise just how this shortage affects Christchurch, where the cycle is so common a means of transport. But with the supply position so grave so far as the rubber shortage ,is concerned, and intensified as it is by a very definite shortage of cotton cord, it is impossible to manufacture tyres to the same extent as previously?