Document Nevkav8x8BKnE0yGzkweVLa2E

PGq/Vt i, F'C* - S'r/l'*-v*ts >> * ' '" ' ' ", '. -;.', NATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY Washington, D.C. 1 * '*%. ^ -i* ** " `4 ** > 4 v * |3*t?':**T ..: . 1 , s A - - *' * ~4",' ; Meeting of >- asbestos mure add rsmuB manufacturers industry advisory committee October 18, 1931 Ray H. Coultrap, Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division, HP.-. \ - _____ * .Vf'Etr*- .foGOVERNMENT PRESIDING CJTICER . 1 `-'t-W-* '*<-- ` _____ ___ Conrdttee Members (Present at Mooting) A. J. Scanlon American Asbestos Textile Corporation Norristown, Pennsylvania Ernest Muehleck Konobey & Mattlson Company . Ambler,, Pennsylvania i:< John C. Schoepf "((etmaS lOUgh'Pv Carolina Asbestos Company Davidson, North C .rolinn Gu3tr.v Walters The Russell Manufacturing Company Middle-town, Connecticut- R. J. Hinkle The Oarloch Packing Company Palmyra, Now York Frank j. Waken Johns MnnvlUe Corporation ,New York, New York George 3. Fabel Southern Asbestos Coripany Charlotte, North Caroling. R.'E. Cryor ' Union Asbestos k Rubber Company Chicago,.Illinois * H. E. Suribury Uhltc-d Staton Rubber Company New York, New York Industry Advisory Connittcen are representative groups formed for the purpose of furnishing advice and information to tlie National Production Authority or; natters furthering the defense effort. No actions are taken or decisions made in those meetings since they are solely for advisory purposes. Suggested subjects for consideration at future meetings may.be sent to the Government Presiding Officer. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN WHOLE OR HI P/JST WITHOUT AUTUONlHATIOH TTiOM the national production authority V < t *' CRMC'M&S-003250 Asbestos Fibro and Textile Mfrs. IAC Minuter. Other Industry Ropreoentotlve -a* 'li October 10, 1951 Richard C. Mobonigal, The Oarlock Packing Conpcny, Palmyra/ New York Government Attendance . .. National Production Authority ' HaTry B.Chnrpc> Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division C. E. Rojtbrouch/ Miscellanoous Metals and Minerals Division , Rex E. Greaves, Office of Industry Advisory Comittees H. R. Kaplan, Office of Public Information Justin N. Feldman, Office of General Counsel William A. White, Sr., Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division Other Agencies Josephin ,_____ --*--f-- HKD?|I^&^Defonso^Prcductibn Administration ^Ralph MuirT*Economic'Cooperation Administration L. E. Siefcrt, Department of the Havy H. P. Walker, Department of the Navy H. S. SpnuldinG, Department of the Navy It. D. A. Mccdhom, Department of the Navy .. dm PURPOSE OF THE MEETING The Asbestos Fibre and Textile industry Advisory Committee met on October 18, 1951, to discuss the current supply and inventory position of the industry; llavy requirements of asbestos cloth; export controls; and a proposed limitation order. Mr. Ray H.Coultrnp (chief, Asbestos Section, Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division, NPA) vas toe Government Presiding Officer. 'Messrs. William A. White, Sr., Director, and Hairy B. Sharpe, Deputy Director, Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division, participated in the meeting. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Greater effort should he made in the coming months to divert the dwindling supplies of spinning grade asbestos fibre to the purposes for which it is most needed, Mr. Coultrap told the cocmlttoe. He added that conferences held in Canada with the Canadian asbestos producers since the last meeting did not result in a prortLo of increased shipments. Hie Canadian producers did indicate, however, that there will be no decrease in shipments during the coning months. SUPPLY PICTURE A poll of the committee revealed that tho Industry is currently operating on c hnnd-to-mouth basis and that there is little hope that the supply of :rmc-m&s-003251 r. fc'-JT.:Vr<^' Asbestos Wbre and Textile Mflrs. IAC Minutes ,; ' * j^ I v -** ' t+ '7 V ' ' 3 - October 18, 1 *51 asbestos fibre will improve in the near future The consensus of the c was that the supply picture will be eorsa In 1952 than lh"1951"and h f aethers feared that they my even bo forced to cease production for a t "In order to "conserve fibre-.- ms K..v The principal nines In Canada, vhlch normally sell asbestos fibre JO' a once-a-year basis, have failed to deliver all the fibre they have con hraeted '' to deliver In 1951,!members repotted. The growing consu^tion of asbestos . ' textiles and: the;mining of. leaner asbestos ores have probably contrlbut|sd to . - the deficieneios ln delivery to the United States. , \ ; P' ' /-V . Although asbestosjdeposits lh BrltishColumbinand. Newfoundland may . eveninxilly becciae/iapbrtant sources of: supply, they, offer no inaodicte. ;solution!t; the^iuroly;J!*pryblenJjMri Coultrap;roportedv;'.lhe roluctcnce of '*i^CalmMiffij^ubi^^oianeBce|alipai^j:|^1s|timi'^.!'cohttoW!d year. *' 'i -------- _. -------x----- -iT..--.. ...... j ____ ___ ____ eh# ^'stipaettti^ri^^TO.5CcbMcei^'l^6f^theKkhrw*y^4^rfree: period;! Mr. Coultrap said. '- ' '.' In the case of Newfoundland, Its Oovernment has appropriated $75,0X3 to assist in the development of the mine. Information regarding the pocslpl development of the Newfoundland deposits should be available within 30 60 days. ' - _ nrmoRi position ' The Comdttce repoted that the small Inventories with vhlch they h the year 1951 have been declining constantly and will bo exhausted by t end of the year. Accumulation of new inventories, therefore, is uniike|L; they said. Reports available in Mr. Coultrap's office, he said, indicate that the Inventory position of the Industry at the end of lb9 was 5,168 tons of crude 1, 2, and all other grades of Canadian chrysotlle, that,.at the end of January 1950, the inventory had ahrunk to 4,261; tons, a decrease of 17^- percent i and that at the ond of June 1951, the inventory figure had shrunk to 2,496 ons, a decrease of 4l percent. Production during the first six months of 1>51 represented 61 percent of tho 1950 total, while consun^tion was 70 percent of the 1950 total. The members stated that the difference between the production and the consumption figures may be due to the use of less wire, with weighting py another element on the ono hand, and u lower grade of fibre on toe othe: The use of lover-grade fibre is uneconomical, they sold; asbestos consume tion increases as the grade of fibre decreases. CRMC-M&S-003252 Asbestos Fibre end Textile tars. XAC Minutes -k - $ October 18, .1951 HAVT ASBESTOS CLOTH RBQPIRagWTS . Mr. Stanley Spaulding (Depcrtnent of the Navy) distributed n tabulation which Indicated that the Navy has firm requirements for 885>200 square yards ofasbestoe cloth for the period Noveraborl951 to June 1952. Contracts for 170,000 square yards have been awarded, but the Navy has been having difficulty In' obtainingbids for the remaining 701,500 square yards. Bids for an : additional 183,000 square yards vill be offered soon, he added. A Denber reported that he had received a large order fron the Central . Procurement Office in New fork, purportedly covering asbestos cloth required in the conversion of a carrier located at Newport News, and four others. Other information Indicates that' the cloth ordered for the conversion at Newport News'had .been ordered previously. -The member therefore.suggested the.possi bility of duplication in the Navy's placing oforders. Mr. Spaulding stated that 102,000 square yards of cloth is-needed in the conversion of,each carrier. Be will casmtunicate.vith theioffice.iirtjichs'originatedjJthearder|in^que6tion;toJ''' elJ'incj^aseTthe'avhilab'ility bf 'spJaning grade asbestos fibre for. use by the industry, Mr. Coultrap stated, OXT is preparing .an order which vill limit the issuance of export licenses by the Office of International Trade, and only after consultation with OTA. Ha explained that about 1,398 long tons of Canadian crude and spinning fibres were exported fron this country during each quarter of 1950. Through cooperation between KPA and OIT, that figure has shrunk to 488 long, tons in, the first quarter of 1951j 394 long tons In the second quarter; 170 long tons in tho third quarter: and, in the fourth quarter, extremely little asbestos fibre will be exported. It is anticipated, Mr. Coultrap continued, that the redaction of exports will soon improve the availability of crude and spinning fibres for domestic use. An export control order to be Issued shortly will require NPA concurrence before an export license may be Issued. Open end control would be of particular advantage in connection with applications from the military departments for approval of proposed exports to the allied and the occupied countries. The alternative of specifying a quantity that might be exported in a given period would not be sufficiently effective in controlling exports,' Mr. Coultrap . explained. Comaltee nonbora endorsed the. proposed export control order and rocomncnded that ltj Issuance be expedited. PROPOSED UMCTiVnON ORDER For the purpose of obtaining the coanittee's advlco and recomend/itions, Mr. Coultrap distributed copies of a proposed limitation order which would restrict the use of spinning grades of chrysotlle asbestos fibre to specified end uses. '"41 CRMC-M&S-003253 ,y Afbetto# Fibre and tactile Mfre. IAC Minute# October 18, 1951 In answer to a question, Mr. Coultrap stated that be im unable to estimate tbe actual savings that could be achieved by the proponed limitation order. Thew| 1 la a difference of 5,000 tone between tbeaaount of aabeatos Imported and tbe reported domestic consumption and exporta, he continued. Even If tbe proponed order succeeds In doing nothing otter: than diverting these 5,000 tons to essential uses, tte order vlU haw served Its purpose. Type 3Z.--Aa to whether Canadian type 3Z ahould be Included In the order, tbe members pointed out that this fibre voa not Included In NFS Order M-233; that only Halted quantities of It are used; that the aebestos textile Industry would be unable to absorb large quantities; and that this night oonfllct with tte distribution pattern of Canadian miners. Type 3Z Is used, however, by aagneela pipe Insulation aenufaeturers and lime silicate nanufacturers to ccapensate for the shortage of aaoalte., The consensus of the group was that the Magnesia Association should be consulted before the order is Issued. ^stei4-!^;BM4>er8ista:^|thatXtMa|section`vSbouiE|iIjB^fi|littl<;-BioTM3'; fwgia ^tbe^edisBlttee that 'since of tbe proposed1prohibited'osea would affect production in, certain segments of the Industry; three alternative courses of action should be considered. These alternatives are: (1) To leave Schedule A In Its present form; (2) to eliminate It In Its entirety; or (3) to permit each user of asbestos to manufacture up to a certain percentage of a base period level. ; In dlseusslng a representative'base period, aesbars pointed out that production of civilian-type end Items has been reduced voluntarily, and militarytype end Item production has been.similarly Increased in 1950. Miners' strikes decreased tbe supply of asbestos fibre during 1949 and, consequently, the fibre Inventory In 1950. It was pointed out if any individual company were to feel that the base period was not representative as to that company, they could apply for an adjustment or exception. After full discussion it waa tbe consensus of the committee that tbe order Is needed and should be issued. Mr. Coultrap thanked the ccoalttee for Its suggestions and stated that they would be studied further. ,oo^A c