SUPPLIES OF ZINC

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22474, 8 January 1943, Page 4

SUPPLIES OF ZINC

Shortage In America (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 7. Because of 'the shortage of zinc in America there has been a further tightening of the restrictions on its uses in that country, according to advice received by the New Zealand Supply and Munitions Minister, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. An amended conservation order, issued at Washington, makes further restrictions on the use of zinc for the manufacture of a large variety of automobile parts, building materials and domestic appliances. Mr Sullivan stated that his inform • ation was that this tighter conservation of zinc was required because the supply was not great enough to meet essential needs. The metal was used in large quantities in the brass for cartridge cases and other munitions, ships propellors, guns, tanks, and in a wide variety of essential military items. The shortage of metal in America is particularly attributable to the labour shortage in some of the mines, and to the development of military demands enormously greater than the peacetime production and consumption of zinc. “The use of zinc is already strictly controlled in the Dominion,” said the Minister, “and it may be necessary for still further restrictions to be imposed on the use of this important metal.” In America health supplies, various precision instruments and dies, all having been found necessary to the war industry, are placed in the non restricted area, and may be made with zinc.