Nogales international., 1942-06-12

. dIIO ACOl4 x4O11NlO4O OOAAs oOOA
of the Office of Price Administra-
ton and director of the WPB Divi-
sion of Civilian Supply, all joined in
the statement, which follows in part:
There has been a great deal of
confusion about the rubber situation,
much of it caused by optimistic
stories about the availability of syn
!: thetic rubber at an early date, or the
large amount of scrap rubber which
can he reprocessed.
But there is little real basis for
such optimism. Our rubber shortage
is one of the worst materials short
ages we face. We can spare no rub
ber of any kind for non-essentlal
uses.
Arms Program Changed Picture
Before Pearl Harbor, it appeared
that this country had an adequate
supply of rubber, in the light Of the
situation as it then existed. We had
stock piled substantial tonnages in
anticipation of interruption in ship
ments from the Far East, and steps
had already been taken to- regulate
civilian consumption.
Events following Pearl Harbor,
however, created whole new series
of problems. The President an
! nounced new military program on
January 6. This very greatly in
creased our military requirements
for rubber. Then, our major sources
of rubber supply were lost. In addi-
ton, our Allies were forced to look
to the United States as source of
military rubber.
/ Thus, despite precautionary steps
taken in 1941, it has become neces-
sary to develop rationing program
for rubber which eliminates all but
the most necessary uses.
Synthetic Must Go To War
War Production Board figures
show three facts:
l. We cannot spare any rub
ber to make new tires for ordin-
ary passenger cars; the tires we
do have must be strictly rationed
to essential uses.
2. All the synthetic rubber we
get must go to the war effort.
g. The most optimistic esti-
mates fon this year and next
indicate nc rubber for anything
! but the most essential uses.
Actually, the rubber shortage is far
verse than most people seem to
realize; the enemy controls 80 per
cent of the worlds rubber producing
areas and every ounce of our stock
pile is needed desperately for the
armed forces.
Biggest Stock Pile On Autos
Worst of all, the optimistic stories
may keep us from recognizing what
we are up against until too late. Our
biggest stock pile of rubber is on our
cars; these tires must be preserved.
Autos shelved for the duration for
lack Of tires put more burden on
already overcrowded buses and troll
leys.
Every citizen can and must
adopt a five-point conservation
program:
l. Stop driving your car eX-
cept when necessary; make it
last.
2. Drive under 40 miles an
| hour.
| 8. Shift tires from wheel to
wheel and initiate them properly.
4. If you drive to work, drive
your friends and neighbors; car
pooling is essential.
5. Remember that rubber is
precious; save it; every car is
now a vital part of the Nations
transportation system.
Needless driving today is unpatri-
otic. Deliberate waste Of rubber
helps the enemy. We call on Amer
leans to ration themselves strictly.
Background
This is the situation which faces
us: the amount of rubber which can
be made available for civilian. in
dustrial, and essential transpoH;a.
ton purposes this year must be helc
down to not more than 10000 tons
which is 79 percent less than the
700 900 tons consumed for all civilian
purposes in 1941 The actual current
rate of use-10,0O tons month
is 83 percent less than the 1941 rate
of civilian consumption.
The 1912 allotments do not include
any rubber for new passenger car
tires
1t has been reported that some
rl,-ivnrc oro not toLiyo0 conservation