RUBBER SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24826, 24 February 1944, Page 7

RUBBER SUPPLIES

POSITION IN DOMINION, NO SYNTHETIC MATERIAL A reply that- no synthetic rubber was available for New Zealand was received by the New Zealand Government after it had requested the United States to send 100 tons for experimental purposes, stated the manpower officer's representative, Mr. W. A. Leggett, before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee yesterday. An offer to send one ton for research work was made, but this would be useless if no further supplies could be obtained, said Mr. Leggett. The Government was fortunate in having a firm in the Dominion like Reid New Zealand Rubber Mills, Limited, said Mr. Leggett, as ample .supplies of rubber had been secured by the firm. Lt was capable of manufacturing all types of rubber goods and at present the factory was not engaged on any unessential products. As well as supplies of, new rubber held, salvaged runber coliected by patriotic efforts covered acres of ground at the factory. The only shortage was in labour, particularly female labour, and men were doing work which could be easily performed by women. "The refusal of supplies of even synthetic rubber from overseas demonstrates the position the country would have beenin were it not for this firm," added Mr. Leggett. "We owe it to them to see that they get labour." The committee was considering an appeal by Miss G. Potts, a shop assistant, against her direction to the rubber mills on the grounds of health. Her appeal was dismissed, provided she was given work in accordance with her medical certificate. An appeal by her employer, W. J. England, was dismissed. Ten appeals in respect of five girls directed to the mills were adjourned until, next week. Five of the appeals were lodged by the present employer. G. Pe/.aro and Son, Limited, the remaining five being personal appeals by the employees directed. HARBOUR BOARD SUED LORRY DRIVER'S CLAIM The hearing of a claiin for damages by a lorry driver, Arthur Wilmott Baker (Mr. Fawcett), against the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr. Hamer) was continued before Mr. Justice Fair and a jury yesterday. The plaintiff was injured in a wharf accident in September, 1912, and for this he claimed £9OO general arid £'.>ss special damages. He alleged that, while he was adjusting a shackle to a grab in his lorry, a cranedriver employed by the board negligently began to raise the grab, which swung and knocked him over the tailboard of the lorry. The board asserted that the claim had been lodged out of time, that the accident was an inevitable one, and that the plaintiff had accepted the risk. G. Douglas Robb, surgeon, estimated that the plaintiff would suffer 25 per cent permanent disability, and said it was unlikely lie would ever return to his former heavy work. At the close of the plaintiff's case, the hearing was adjourned until this morning. GUILTY OF BIGAMY (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday Found guilty of bigamy William Thomas Jensen, n member of the R.N.Z.A.F., who admitted making a false declaration under the Marriage Act, was remanded for sentence by Mr Justice Finlay. The form of marriage through which accused went with a woman at Piopio and on which the charges were based took place in April, 1943. The woman had since died. At that time accused's wife was still living. She had obtained n decree nisi in divorce proceedings against accused in 1910. but the decree had never been made absolute. The defence was that accused knew that his' wife was taking divorce proceedings against him and thought she she had completed the process.