TRADE NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 33

TRADE NOTES

NEW USES FOR RUBBER. GERMANY’S SHORTAGE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 9. A rubber floor, 750 square yards in area, has been presented to Guy’s Hospital by the Rubber Growers’ Association. Making the presentation, Mr John M'Ewan, chairman of the association, said when the time came to tell the full story of how the Government was forced two weeks ago to declare rubber conditional contraband another of the romances of commerce would be unfolded. The story of the efforts of Germany to secure the essential for replacing her airships, motor tyres, and innumerable other articles, and the manner in which at every point she had been headed off by the assistance of those whose business it was to grow and sell rubber, would make a good story in the telling. All the rubber manufacturers were busy producing waterproof ground sheets for our army, besides surgical goods of endless variety. A gift of 1000 hot-water bottles, of the best plantation rubber, had just been made to the Red Cross Society, and the association was urging the Government to fit out the soldiers with rubber boots such as Russians wear, to help them face better the winter snow and damp to which they were likely to be exposed. The robber flooring has the warm approval of the medical and nursing staff of the hospital. Two other hospitals had it, and a London church which had just been reopened after a new rubber flooring had been fitted was said by its rector to have improved vastly in its acoustic properties, while the organist considered the resonant qualities of rubber were such that the musical effect was improved by some 25 per cent. GOOD FOR SCOTLAND. The French Government has placed an order for 1,500,000 horseshoes with the Scottish Iron and Steel Company, Coatbridge. One of the works acquired by the company held an exclusive patent for Great Britain for the manufacture of horseshoes by mechanical means, and at one period did an enormous business. Competition from Germany, however, proved too strong, and the making of the shoes had to be stopped two years ago. These works were entirely closed. Now that this order from France has been secured the works will, be reopened at once. Another factory in the same town is working overtime in making barbed wire. DIVERTED TO MANCHESTER. On the outbreak of the war Sir William Milligan, of the Manchester Radium Committee, telegraphed to Pittsburg asking that supplies of radium, which he knew were on order for Germany, should be diverted to Manchester. As the completion of the order to Germany was impossible, his request was complied with, and as a result Manchester secures full supplies six months earlier than was anticipated. HOW AMERICA IS FARING. American exports are increasing in volume, and this will bring about an improvement of the general financial situation and relieve the tension now existing on the foreign exchange market. France is buying heavily American iresh meats, and England has given orders for tinned beef. Argentina and Uruguay are sending meat in large quantities to the United States. Franco, England, and Russia are buying cavalry horses in America, and the knitting mills have been asked to furnish prices for sweaters for troops in the field. Since August 1,152,000 bales of cotton have been shipped, valued at about £1,400,000. PROHIBITION OF SUGAR IMPORTS. A proclamation extending the prohibitions relating to trading with the enemy to the importation of sugar has been issued in the London Gazette. Except those who are expressly permitted by Government license, persons resident in British dominions are warned; Not directly or indirectly to import or cause or procure to be imported or to be concex’iied with the importation into any part of our dominions or into any other country or place whatever through or from any port in Europe of raw or refined sugar, made or produced by an enemy or in an enemy country, or refined sugar (wherever made or produced), made or produced from raw sugar made or produced by an enemy or in an enemy country. Not directly or indirectly to deal ‘in any sugar as aforesaid. Commenting on the fact that the Board of Trade has prohibited the import of German sugar from Holland, the Berlin Tageblatt says; —“ We are inclined to believe that the English Government would be glad if it could obtain German sugar. In order to understand this, the circumstance must be borne in mind that the price of sugar in England has increased by 140 per cent, since the outbreak of the war.” Another German authority announces that in England sugar cost about 12s per cwt before the war, while now it costs 30s to 31s per cwt. KEEPING DOWN. THE PRICE. In order to avoid a sugar famine in consequence of the cessation of the supply of beet sugar from Germany, Austria, and Belgium, Mr M’Kenna, the Home Secretary (it is announced), lias purchased 900‘,000 tons of raw sugar at about £2O per ton, the transaction involving an outlay of about £18,000,000. The sugar has been purchased at Demerara, Java, Mauritius, and other places. This is by far the largest purchase of sugar which has ever been made in the world’s history. The sugar is to be sold practically at cost price to the refiners, who by arrangement with the Government, have agreed to sell it when refined to the dealer at a fixed price, based upon the cost of the raw qrticle, plus a fair manufacturing profit.

It is believed that the arrangement will tend to decrease the existing retail prices, or, at any rate, it will prevent any increase. METAL TIN FROM TIN CANS. * Two hundred and forty pounds per ton was mentioned this week in an interesting court case as the price obtainable for metal tin removed from the surface of bright old tins. This is the first time the public at large has been acquainted with the fact that the recovery of tin from tin cans is a systematic business. There may bo several processes in vogue for the removal of tin from the surface of scrap metal, but the one most favoured in Germany during recent years has been that of treating the scrap with superheated steam. For this purpose the cans, after a preliminary sorting and washing, are placed in a steel chamber capable of standing high pressure. Superheated steam is admitted at a temperature considerably in excess of the melting point of tin, the rare metal runs off the scrap and accumulates in the bottom of the chamber. Superheated steam has been employed by the Germans • of late for many processes little practised in this country. “TIPPERARY TOMMY” AND OTHER TOYS. German toys are no longer desired in English nurseries, so the Women’s Emergency Corps has started, at Old Bedford College, a toy factory employing girls already hard at work with fret saws, needle points, and drills. They are making model buildings, and field ambulance wagons, among other things, and big stores in London have placed orders. Gollywogs are being made to the design of an English girl who has been -working in Paris, and Avho came to London in search of employment. This doll is made of stockingette, with French knots for eyes and with curly hair of wool carefully sewn into the head. It is called “ Tipperary Tommy.” The stockingette used to come from Germany, but is now made by 7 a firm which was going to close down when this chance of revived business offered. Though the girls employed are all learners, they are paid -while they are being taught at the full trade union rates, and they are likely to be kept busy for some considerable time. There are also some wooden figures after the style of Caran d’Acho, which include Lord Kitchener in field-marshal uniform, a khaki boy, a sailor, and a very complete Noah’s ark. All these toy designs are originals and all have been registered. Some very handsome ships are also being made. BELGIAN LACE. At the present moment it is possible to buy some beautiful and unique specimens of Belgian lace in London, and there are even some pieces of a kind which, owing to the war, may never be procurable in England again unless by a fortuitous disposal of heirlooms. There are lace gowns and scarves and flounces, and small pieces for collars, cuffs, etc.