Evening star., 1951-09-23
Rubber Makers Feel
Better About Supply
In Spite Of Warning
By Froneis P. DoueIos


The rubber industry and some |
Government officials have about
come to the conclusion that major
rubber supply problems have been
licked.
This is despite the warning by
the Preparedness subcommittee of
the Senate Armed Services Com
mittee that the Stockpiling Of ma
tural rubber has not been proceed
ing fast enough.
Before that warning was given |
the National Production Authority |
had indicated to the rubber indus
try tS@t probably it could be al
located all the rubber it asks for
next year.
AS result of the statement of
the subcommittee, headed by Sen
ator johnson, Democrat, of Texas,
however, it is expected that the
program for next year will be
scrutinized with the greatest care
before restrictions are relaxed.
New CurbS Recommended.
The johnson subcommittee rec
commended new curbs on the use
of natural rubber for tire produc- f.
ton. 1t asserted that the Num-
tionS Boards Stockpile target.
should have primary considera-
ton. with NPA determination of
the amount of natural rubber to
be furnished industry second.
Officials in the NPA rubber divi-
sion have been of the opinion that
the stockpile goal for natural rub
Der by the end of 1851 will be
reached. There also has been a
statement by Jess Larson, General
Services Administrator who is
charged with all natural rubber /
buying in this country. that under
normal market conditions the
stock pile goal will be met in the
mot too distant future"
The johnson subcommittee
however. called attention to the
fact that IS per cent of our
natural rubber comes from South
east Asia and made this point: "A
natural rubber Pearl Harbor' is
not merely tonight's nightmare
1t could be tomorrow'S reality"
Costs Are Compared. l.
to Government restrictions three
circumstances have kept down the
use of natural rubber: !
NPA comments that in addition .
l. Natural rubber costs the in .
dustry So cents a pound against
rs cents for synthetic rubber. /
2. Synthetic rubbers have i'm /
proved and there has been an in |
crease in supply.
3. Restrictions on automobile 1
production have cut the number I
OF tires and tubes needed for orig
inal equipment.
Further cuts in automobile pro- {
duction are expected next year /,
as result of metals shortages. !.
Whereas production of passenger
cars in the current quarter is
limited to IL million. it is ex-
pected the number will be scaled |,
down in the first quarter of next ,
year to perhaps around 800 1000. .
The amount OF natural rubber /
in the stockpile and the goal are
subjects surrounded by secrecy.
John L. Collyer. president of the i
B. F. Goodrich Co., has put the
stockpile supply at enough to last /
during f1ve-year war. NPA off,
cials mention a four-year supply, /
guessing at that period with the |
proviso that gasoline rationing /
and other World War II conser-
vation measures are invoked ,
again.
Production Increased.
There has been steady in
crease in synthetic rubber pro-
duction. Most of it is turned out .
IN Government-owned plants and
the program is directed by the .
Reconstruction Finance Corp. !
In the first three months of .
1850 production was 124,623 long
tons. In the same period the total /
use OF both natural and synthetic /
rubber for civilian and military
purposes was 1885, 800 tons. In the