New-York tribune., 1921-03-13

ton, agricultural for the most part,
has very little need as yet for rubber
goods of any description.
Australian manufacturers Of rubber
goods have increased onsderaby Of
late years, and with the advantages
given to the industry by the tariff act
of March, 1920, there is every indica-
ton that the country will continue to
produce larger proportion of its own
requirements. The raw material here
tofore secured from the Straits Settle
ments, Ceylon and Java is now being
brought in larger quantity from island
territories that have come under Aus
tralian political control. The Common
wealth may in time want, and secure,
ali the rubber that is produced in the
late German colonies of the South
Pacific. and this will have an impor-
tant influence upon the future develop
ment of the rubber manufacturing in
dustry here.
During the war period, and to meet
the requirements Of the Comm onwcalth
government, many new lines OF manu-
tactured rubber goods were produced
and the operations Of three or four
Ausgoods and floor coverings.
Demand for L. S. Goods
Probably 40 per cent Of the motor
car tires used in New South Wales are
of American manufacture. The largest
part of the automobile trade is in the
hands of the Dunlop (Australasia)
Company, which is now able to produce
high grade tire, and, because Of the
exchange situation, the higher export
costs Of American goods and the added
customs duty, to extend the sale Of it.
products, particularly in i2-inch size
tires, against all competing makes o.
imported goods.
American made tire. enjoy r good
reputation and have been sold on a
quality and wearing basis that has
given satisfaction to users. Consid-
cradle local advertising is done by
American tire exporters, supported by
demonstration and technical service
Dealer organization as it exists in the
United States has not yet been devel
cped in New South Wales, and foreign
manufacturers rlust therefore keep up
AN unremtting effort to move their
goods.
The importation Of motor vehicles.
tires, covers, and tubes into New Tea
land has been a very important item
in the increase TO be noted III the
domnions total imports from year to
year. and the first nine months Of 1920
were no cxception-in fact, showed a
period in the history OF New Zealand.
During the nine months American
manufacturers supplied more than malt
Of the motor vehicles imported, vita
Canada quite a close second in com
plete vehicles and leading in chassis.
New Zealand An Important Market
No rubber is grown in New zea-
Ian for commercial purposes, and it
is not probable that any will be grown
here in a commercial way for years to
come. if ever. Neither are there any
journals devoted to the rubber busi-
ness published here.
The imports of rubber supplies for
1918, compared with 1918 and 1919, are
not given in this report for the reason
that the classification for 1918 does not
correspond with that of the years fol-
lowing.
There is a large number Of rubber
tires imported into New Zealand an
nually, and the demand is constantly
increasing. The present source Of
supply is very largely from the United
States, while previous to the war the
United Kingdom supplied the greater
portion OF rubber tires in this domin-
ion.
In rubber tires, covers and tubes
for motor vehicles American manu-
facturers lead, but not to the same ex-
tent as in motor vehicles, imports from
the United States amounting in the
first nine months of 1920 TO 1880 723;
from Australia, S1,130S09; from Can
ada, 1902 ,624: from the United King
dom, $580,427; France, S71O,o57; Italy,
S495,S33; Japan. s4.20o, and from Bel
GUM, S7,l6S. Australia especially seems
to be gaining very rapidly, for during
the month of September the imports Of
rubber tires, etc, from the United
States amounted to S316,9l6. with Aus
tralia in second place at $3.50 ,5S5.
Situation in China
There are approximately $500 pas
senger automobiles in Shanghai, the
greater portion of which are the lighter
four or five passenger cara, with per
haps some 20 to so per cent Of the
heavier seven-passenger cars. There
are about $50 motor trucks in use in
this consular district, about 70 per cent
of which use solid tires, though there
is a decided tendency to superscde
these by the pneumatic truck tire.
1t is estimated that there are CON
servatively 25,000 rickshaws in Shang-
hal alone, all of which use pneumatic
tires. A large proportion of these are
Dunlop tires, manufactured in Japan,
and sold at price much less than
American made tires are being sold for
here. There are also in use in Shang-
hai the carriages known as vietorias,
al Of which are supplied With xubbey