October 1, 1920.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



51 



CANADIAN MARKET FOR RUBBER GOODS' 



BRITISH COLUMBIA 



THERE is only one firm interested in the manufacture of rubber 

 goods and this is situated at Coquitlan, British Columbia. 

 It has a fully equipped plant and intended to commence opera- 

 tions September 1. The firm has received orders aggregating 

 $1,000,000 in value, largely for shipment to New Zealand. While 

 principally interested in the manufacture of automobile tires, 

 •certain side line> will also be made. 



HALIFAX 



There are no manufacturers of rubber goods in the Halifax 

 ■consular district, and, as far as can be ascertained, no raw, scrap, 

 "waste, or reclaimed rubber is imported for manufacture. The 

 market for rubber tires in Nova Scotia, where there are some 

 12,000 automobiles and trucks, is good, as the poor roads call 

 for frequent replacements. The tires used are almost wholly of 

 Canadian manufacture. The size most generally used is 30 by 

 3'/2 iHches, clincher type. Terms of payment are 25 per cent off 

 for cash, net 30 days. 



The market for rubber boots and shoes, on account of climatic 

 -conditions and such industries as the fisheries and lumbering, 

 is most e.Kcellent. This class of goods has, in the past, been 

 ■obtained from two sources, American and Canadian, but the 

 present tendency, on account of unfavorable exchange, is to place 

 .all possible orders with Canadian manufacturers. Rubber boots 

 and shoes are ordered from traveling salesmen, or purchased 

 direct. No statistics of imports or exports are available, but it is 

 known that at present very few rubber boots or shoes are im- 

 ported. The terms of payment usually given are 30 days, with 2 

 per cent discount for cash. 



There is also, an excellent market for belting, and a fair market 

 for other rubber goods used for industrial purposes. Credit is 

 given by the manufacturers for 30 or 60 days, depending on the 

 size of the order and the credit standing of the purchaser. 

 The larger industrial plants buy direct from the manufacturer. 



KINGSTON, ONTAHIO 



In the Kingston district in 1920 there will be a great demand 

 for automobile tires. The prosperity enjoyed by the farmers 

 ■during the past five years enables them to have a car or two 

 and in consequence the demand for small-sized tires is large. 

 Sizes in demand are 30 by 3K>, 31 by 4, 32 by 4, 34 by 4J<2, 35 by 

 5 and 37 by 5 inches. Clincher 30 by Syi and 31 by 4 inches are 

 inost popular, while the straight side comes next. 



Over; two-thirds of the tires sold in this district are made in 

 Canada and those of American make are sold through distribut- 

 ing houses in Toronto. Terms of payment are cash 30 days, 

 varying from 2 to 5 per cent. 



The demand for rubber boots and shoes is in the spring and 

 fall of the year. Shipments arc made to the retail trade in July 

 and August and i)ayments met in November, when a discount 

 ■of 2]/2 per cent is allowed. Owing to the duty and unfavorable 

 ■exchange American goods are practically shut out of the Can- 

 adian market, the only source of supply being Canadian goods. 

 The rubber boots sold are in the following sizes: Men's, 6 to 11 ; 

 l5oys', 1 to 5; youths', 11 to 13; and children's, 6 to lOj^. Heavy 

 rubber shoes find a sale only in the agricultural sections of the 

 district. 



NEW BRUNSWICK 



The rubber industrial centers in Canada are Monlreal and 

 Quebec. Adverse exchange conditions have practically closed 

 the market to rubber goods from the United States, but there 

 are many kinds of goods that must be imported because Canadian 

 manufacturers are not so far advanced in the making of insulated 

 rubber, scientific apparatus, and miscellaneous rubber goods in- 

 cluded under druggists' sundries, but the list is narrowing down 

 and may before long exclude these also. 



^Consular reports to the nei>artnient of Commerce. No. 215, 1920. 



The market for rubber tires is considerable. Over 50 per cent 

 of the tires sold in this district are of the 30 by 3^2-inch size. 

 Other sizes of tires range from 32 by 4 to 35 by 5 inches, fabric 

 and cord, straight side and clinchers. The usual terms are 30 

 days and 2 per cent for cash. 



It is the general opinion among dealers that rubber clothing of 

 American manufacture is superior to the domestic articles, and 

 that there will be a demand for this class of goods in spite of 

 the added cost on account of duty and adverse exchange. There 

 is a stable market here for American-made rubber packing and 

 fruit-jar rings, because of superiority. 



MANITOBA 



No rubber goods of any description are manufactured in the 

 Province of Manitoba, the source of supply being the rubber- 

 manufacturing centers of eastern Canada and the United States. 

 The bulk of the tire business consists of Canadian manufactured 

 goods from Ontario factories operated by both American and 

 British capital. Factory branches ind warehouses maintained in 

 Winnipeg by the manufacturers handle the retail and jobbing 

 trade and maintain accounting and selling organizations, and a 

 stock of tires. The Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and 

 Alberta are controlled by the branches at Winnipeg, as a rule, 

 jobbers being found in the larger cities. Terms of payment 

 generally quoted to retail dealers are 2 per cent on the 10th of 

 the following month, or 30 days, net, with the same terms to 

 jobbers, who, in addition, receive a jobber's discount. 



The retail price in Manitoba of a Canadian-made tire is ap- 

 proximately 20 per cent higher than the retail price in the 

 United States of an Americait tire of equal quality. However, 

 American tires are subject to an import duty of 35 per cent, a 2 

 per cent sales tax recently imposed, and an adverse rate of ex- 

 change. A number of well-known American tires are on the 

 market, selling for about 45 per cent higher than in the United 

 States. However, due to increased cost of production, all 

 Canadian tires advanced in price about 20 per cent during the 

 last year. 



The most popular sizes in general use are 30 by 3^ clincher, 

 32 by 4 straight side, the first-named size comprising about 60 

 per cent of the number sold. In conformity with the action of 

 the Rubber Association of America, the Canadian manufacturers 

 will at once reduce the number of odd and oversize tires now 

 being made and concentrate on three or four standard sizes. 

 The tire market in the province is reported to be very good, but 

 factory branches say there is no unprecedented growth in the 

 volume of sales. 



The rubber boot -and shoe trade in this province is locally con- 

 trolled. There was a time when American rubber footwear 

 found a market here, due to distinction and variety of style, but 

 the improvement of Canadian manufactures has resulted in 

 swinging the trade balance. In some lines of footwear Canadian 

 products excel American manufactures in points of workmanship 

 and finish. The market for rubber footwear in this locality is 

 said to be unlimited, some factories being unable to meet the 

 demands of trade, and an ever-increasing dcinand is expected, 

 particularly for overshoes and rubbers, as many residents of the 

 British Isles now coming to Canada, unused to rubber footwear, 

 will follow the custom of the country, as have thousands of labor- 

 ing classes from Central Europe. 



Rubber goods for industrial purposes are manufactured in 

 eastern Canada and distributed by factory branches and sales 

 managers in Manitoba. Terms of payment are similar to those 

 given jobbers in other rubber lines, and the market is reported 

 as being good. 



It is estimated that about one-third of the druggists' sundries 

 made of rubber is imported from the United States. This class 

 of goods includes hot-water bags, air cushions and mattresses, 

 bathing caps, toys, and some surgical bandages. Rubber cement 

 and elastic are also received from the United States. 



