particularly in the trade in rubber tyres, comparisons based on these trade returns must be qualified by considerations of the organisation of the industry. These considerations we deal with ‘n the section on the rubber tyre industry below. rOv- she the srn- ‘he J26, FOV- ain ur ry. ind, rade led. oect and er's 1ni- "NT oub- the 4881- this PY }01m- 3 of aich not a a dity 2 to 5 of and [II.—CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 7. At times the rubber manufacturing industry is referred to as f it were synonymous with the tyre industry. This loose descrip- sion has this justification; about 75 per cent. of the raw rubber ised in industries in the world is absorbed in the manufacture of ;yres. Rubber, however, enters into the manufacture of many lifferent articles, some of which, under no ordinary system of trade :lassification, would be treated as rubber goods. It is used in he manufacture of :— (a) Tyres—pneumatic and solid. (b) Mechanical goods—belting, hose. tubing, valves, washers, and packing. (¢) Footwear—boots, shoes, soles and heels. «d) Miscellaneous— Waterproofed goods—apparel and fabric. Surgical and hygienic—surgeons’ and other gloves, syringes, douches, hot-water bottles. sponges, water and air beds. Sports—both indoor and outdoor—golf, tennis, football, oathing caps. Toys—balls of all colours, dolls, models, aquatic toys, salloons. Rubber thread—for elastic webbing. Stationery—rubber bands, erasers. Hard rubber (vuleanite, ebonite, etc.)—for electrical apparatus, telephones, switchboards, wireless; for fountain pens and parts of surgical and hygienic requi- sites such as nozzles, stoppers, handles. Electrical insulation—cables, wires. Noise and vibration insulation—shock absorbers on railways, motor vehicles, aeroplanes—road surfaces. Floor covering and matting—in houses and buildings, n cars, ships, aeroplanes. Decorative purposes—artificial flowers, ornaments. 8. Although rubber forms an essential part of all of these goods, yet they differ widely not only in the quantity of rubber used in shem, but also in the proportion of the cost of the rubber used to she cost of the finished article. In tyres both the quantity of rubber used and the proportion of its cost to that of tyres is con- siderable. In waterproofed apparel the quantity of rubber used Variety of Manu- fa atuires. Varying proportion of rubber ased in Manufac- ture of different articles.