December 1, 1918.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Activities of the War Service Committee of the Rubber Industry. 



o 



REGARDING ESSENTIAL RUBBER GOODS NOT LISTED. 



N October 29, 1918, the following notice was sent out by the 

 War Service Committee. 



To all rubber manufacturers: 



Under date of October 11 all manufacturers were advised by 

 telegram that the War Industries Board at our suggestion had 

 ruled that pending decisions on application for classification of 

 rubber articles as listed in issue No. 1 of "Regulations Govern- 

 ing the Production of Rubber Products," articles of unques- 

 tioned essentiality not listed might be produced to November 

 1 for current requirements. 



The War Industries Board now advises that this ruling has 

 been extended to November 11. After that date regulations pub- 

 lished in issue No. 2 will govern production. 



These regulations appeared in our issue for November 1, 1918. 



The War Service Committee notified all rubber manufacturers 

 on November 4 that when executing the manufacturer's report 

 to the Bureau of Imports, War Trade Board, requesting replace- 

 ment of rubber used on direct government contracts, the report 

 should state amount in pounds, dry weight, of crude rubber 

 consumed. 



W. S. C. QUESTIONNAIRE NO. 25. 



At the request of the War Industries Board, the War Service 

 Committee, on November 7, advised manufacturers that the 

 naphtha situation was most serious. The Board had practically 

 decided to limit the production of naphtha to aviation gasoline 

 for government uses only and to motor spirits. No drastic 

 action will be taken, however, until the requirements of the 

 industry are known. To that end W. S. C. Questionnaire No. 25 

 requests a report from manufacturers on the grade and gallons 

 of naphtha consutned from January 1 to November 1, 1918; es- 

 timated consumption for November and December, 1918, and 

 gallons necessary to complete present government contracts. Man- 

 ufacturers of tires, tire sundries, mechanical goods, footwear, 

 insulated wire, insulating compounds, medicinal and surgical 

 goods, waterproof cloth, waterproof clothing, hand-rubber goods, 

 gas defense products, aircraft material and rubber cement, are 

 requested to give their monthly production of government and 

 other essential work ; monthly production of government and 

 other essential work if motor spirit only was available: monthly 

 production of government and other essential work if only 68- 

 70-degree and below was obtainable. 



LETTER RELATING TO RUBBER PRODUCTS REGULATIONS. 



November 9, 1918. 

 To the rubber industry: 



Acting under the instructions of the War Industries Board 

 the rubber industry is advised that until otherwise instructed 

 they must operate in conformity with Issue No. 2 of "Regulations 

 Governing the Production of Rubber Products," dated Novem- 

 ber 1, 1918, except that the production of all articles not listed 

 in issue No. 2 and all articles on which rulings have been asked 

 is permitted in such quantities as are required to meet the de- 

 mands of the current trade. 



Any rulings made since the publication of Issue No. 2 are 

 hereby suspended. The requiring of pledges from customers is 

 still held in abeyance in conformity with our letter of October 26. 

 W.\R Service Committee. 



COMMITTEE ADVISES OBSERVANCE OF RESTRICTION RULES. 



November 9, 1918. 

 To the rubber industry: 



Acting under the instructions of the War Industries Board, 

 the rubber industry is advised that until otherwise instructed 

 no manufacturer should assume that because of an armistice being 



signed the industry will be permitted to operate without re- 

 strictions. This is not jo. 



The conditions incident to making peace are such that in all 

 probability a careful control and restriction of imports and con- 

 sumption of raw materials and production of finished goods must 

 continue for a number of months. Tlierefore it is important 

 that each manufacturer shall conduct his business with such care 

 as will msure complete cooperation with tlie War Trade Board 

 Shipping Board, War Industries Board and all other government 

 departments. 



W.\R Service Committee. 



W. S. C. QUESTIONNAIRE NO. 25 WITHDRAWN. 



November 18, 1918. 

 To all rubber manufacturers: 



The Rubber Section of the War Industries Board has informed 

 us that due to changed conditions, it will not be necessary for 

 manufacturers who have not already answered Questionnaire No. 

 2o relating to naphtha consumption, to do so. 



We wish to impress on manufacturers, however that it will 

 be necessary for them to answer all of the other questionnaires, 

 and trust that they will send their answers in to us at their 

 earliest convenience. 



This is especially important to the rubber industry as these 

 figures may form strong arguments for obtaining relief from 

 present restrictions. 



War Service Committee. 



REGULATIONS GOVERNING PRODUCTION OF RUBBER 

 ARTICLES WITHDRAWN. 



The following telegram dated New York, November 19, 1918, 

 was received on November 20: 



The War Industries Board instructs us to announce that all 

 restrictions curtailing production of rubber articles in accordance 

 with Issue No. 2, Regulations Governing Production of Rubber 

 Articles, dated November first are withdrawn. This ruling 

 permits the production without restriction of all articles 

 listed in classes two and three; also articles not listed except 

 automobile casings and tubes under six inches, on which we are 

 advised Rubber Section has sent tire manufacturers revised pro- 

 duction schedule for the remainder of this quarter. 



War Service Committee. 

 RUBBER SECTION OFFICE NOW IN WASHINGTON. 

 The Rubber Section of the War Industries Board is now 

 located in the War Industries Annex building, Washington, D. C, 

 to which all communications should be addressed. 



ACTIVITIES OF THE RUBBER ASSOCIATION. 



SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT PRESCRIBES BALED RUBBER. 

 •T^HE following letter, dated November 4, 1918, was sent to 

 *■ rubber importers and manufacturers by the Committee on 

 Rubber and Kindred Products : 



The following cable has just been received from the Overseas 

 Committee of the Rubber Association of America: 



Singapore Government regulations pressing come into 

 force November IS, sheets 220 pounds, crepe 165 pounds, 

 five cubic feet. 



From this it will be noted that the Singapore Government has 

 taken the initiative in making the closer form of packing (an- 

 nouncement of which was brought to your attention in our letter 

 of March 23) a compulsory regulation. 



We construe the weights mentioned as being the minimum, 

 which after November 15 must be packed in the unit of five cubic 

 feet (the usual size of a rubber package). 



ANNUAL MEETING AND BANQUET. 

 Tlie nineteenth annual meeting and banquet of The Rubber 

 Association of America, Inc., will be held January 20, 1919, at 

 the Waldorf-Astoria, New York City. 



This will probably be one of the most important meetings ever 

 known in the history of the trade, and a large attendance is con- 

 fidently expected. 



