NATURAL GAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 6

NATURAL GAS.

DOMINION'S RESOURCES.

EXPLANATION SOUGHT.

<By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day. There is sufficient natural gas in >ew Zealand, well distributed over both the North and South Islands, to keep Vi P Tlvtte aiM * commercial motor vehicle* of the Dominion running, said Mr. S. C. Crawford to the Wbtngarci Commercial Vehicle Owners' Association meeting, held last night to discuss the possibility of general co-ordination of tnivport in the Whangarei district. A number of commercial vehicles in Whangarei had already been converted to "producer gas" extracted from coke; the natural gas was superior to this, having among other advantages no grit deposit, Mr. Crawford said. The gas might not provide the same mileage efficiency as the same quantity of petrol, nevertheless the use of it would keep transport going and effect a considerable saving in the sterling exchange. This gas, he said, was not necessarily found over coal or oil fields. Through the Commercial Vehicle Owners' Association, Mr. Crawford conditionally offered to give a considerable amount of technical information and data on the subject to the Government free of charge.

In view of the apparent necessity for conserving petrol the association moved: "That the Transport Department be asked definitely that, if a scheme is brought down whereby petrol is not used by motor transport or private users, will the Department ask Cabinet to amend the Mining Act by eliminating the £1000 license fee for prospecting natural gas so that gas, which is known to exist in large quantities and of good quality throughout New Zealand, could be prospected and developed, thereby providing commercial and private motor vehicles with a motive power and eliminating the use of petrol." Th» motion was carried.