RUBBER PRODUCTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23114, 31 January 1945, Page 4

RUBBER PRODUCTION

Situation Discussed British Official Wireless RUGBY, January 29. Representatives of the British, United States and Netherlands Governments have been studying prospects of natural and synthetic rubber production. They believe that natural rubber production could be increased to 1,500,000 tons a year in three to four years after the defeat of Japan. This was announced from the State Department in Washington to-day. The post-war production of synthetic rubber, including a conjectural European output, is about 1,333,000 tons a year, while the annual consumption of all types of rubber is not expected to reach more than 1,500,000 tons. At the Washington meeting Allied representatives emphasised the great uncertainties which surrounded any estimates of their future capacity both to produce and consume various types of natural, synthetic and reclaimed rubber. In particular the time at which the Far Eastern rubber growing areas will be liberated and the condition of these areas at the time of liberation are both unknown. There is also some uncertainty about the rate at which labour will become available in some areas.

It is expected that past rapid development of new uses for rubber will continue and may well be accelerated by the advances scientists have made in developing new, physical and chemical characteristics in rubber and rubberlike materials.

The group paid a warm tribute to the immense achievements of the American synthetic industry during the war, but noted that supplies of natural rubber were likely to remain short for some time.

It was agreed by all the representatives that the meeting had been of value, and it was decided to keep the rubber situation under continuous review.