Evening star., 1926-01-31
ALL LRUBBERUSERS
. HIT BY PEAK COST
British Automotive Trade
Head Forecasts Early
Decline in Prices.

Americans have not been singled
out as the particular victims of high
crude rubber prices, says Sir William
Let's. X Z. T., president of the So
ciety of Moor Manufacturers and
Traders OF Great Britain. who Is In
this country studying conditions in
the au;omotive field.
Before | came out here on this
trip and since ! have been mere i
have feit thai 100 much has been said
and written IN Amerl> Il regarding the
rubber situation and tnat II mas oeen
treated 100 much from The American
viewpoint" says Sir William.
Just as the ruuuer ltSe.l Is elastic,
the Statements regarding i, have been
stretched quite tar en- ugh 1he
American has got the SINE coma.
tions iuentically as Grea> Britain an
the rest OF the world IN its purchas
OF raw rubber. and no advantage ha
been given to Great Britain or an.
other territory as against America
Livery one is on the same basis.
Says All Users Are Hit.
"Sir Robert Horne, G.. Is. E., in hi
recent statement to the American
newspapers puts the matter SO clearil
that / do not believe it is possible
challenge his statements. 1t is or M
use to try to rope in the sentiment
automobile users regarding rubber
nrices. They are IN exactly the same
position regarding the price of tires
here as they are all over the wori'l
The prices of crude rubber as SUP
piled to your manufacturers are Tn
same as they are to manufacturer
in all other countries. No one ca
say that the British government /
picking the price of rubber.
The Stevenson act, l believe 1t J
generally admitted. has saved tn
situation. The present price to which
rubber has scared has been cause
by nothing more nor less than specu
lation. both by insiders and outsiders
1t is just like speculation In you
wheat pit and cotton market. Had
there been no Stevenson act, th'
planters and the estates would have
gone broke.
at is rather surprising to talF
about the present prices anectin'
users in a country where motor cars
are in such phenomenal demand
especially when you consider no"
different this country is in genera
prosperity from other countries which
are users of automobiles. And ir
these other countries the same condl,
ton exists which exists here.
1--WE in the automobile industry In
Great Britain are just as anxious as
YOU are for tire prices to be put at
an economic figure.
Sees Drop in Prices.
In my humble opinion rubber
prices are coming down.
THE complete relief under the
Stevenson restriction scheme Of 100
per cent will be in operation in Feb
1.uary, and should give great benefit
TO the situation. In my humble opin-
ion the Government, having stood be
hind the Stevenson act. has been and
is the real savior Of the rubber In
dustry.
Our interests are common, except
that Great Britain Is In a far differ
ent situation than the United States
as It relates to general prosperity.
But Great Britain is certainly on the
upgrade In its Industries. 1 feel sure
that the good feeling between the two
countries which exists today should
be strengthened and that we should
confer and work toward one common
end, which, with two such large ma
tions involved, would be for the good
of the whole world.
"No one, either here or in Great
Britain, anticipated an Increase of
from 1000, 900 to 10000. 900 motor We
hicles in America in the short space
Of three or four years.
British Also in Fight.
you may be certain that the mo
tor industry of Great Britain will do
everything that is possible to remove
any sort of artificial interference with
production In rubber. as It's interest
IS identical with that of the American Il
automobile industry so far as tires
are concerned.
II say, advisedly, that we are de-
lighted to discuss in the friendliest
manner possible any joint steps which
might be taken independently of gov
ernment and on behalf of the com
mercial interests of our countries t.
bring the price of rubber down T.
economic levels, but do let us steer
clear Of eXaggeration. which does no
have a tendency to help matters.
mo country in the world has had
the experience nor can appreciate
more than the United States that the
law Of supply and demand will az.
ways continue to function"