SEARCH FOR OIL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 6

SEARCH FOR OIL

MINISTER’S HOPES

(P.R.) ' WELLINGTON, August 21. Hopes that before long oil would be found in New Zealand were expressed by the Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) when speaking in the second reading debate on the National Development Loans Bill in the House today. “Had it not been -for legislation, the progress in drilling would not have been made,” he said. "Let us hope now that the result will be that we will be able to get sufficient oil and petrol to pay off our national debt." The drill at Midhirst was now down to 8000 feet, and it was quite a possibility that when the drill was down another 2000 feet the country might have the good news that oil had been discovered, said Mr Webb. At Morere, another big drill was operating at a depth of 6000 feet. The machine cost £35,000. As a result of the Government’s legislation, the country might be blessed in the not distant future with a flow of oil. Some of the world’s best geologists had made an examination of potential oil-bearing country. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago): That is all done by private enterprise. "Antiquated legislation prevented private enterprise from getting access to the land on which to drill,” replied Mr Webb. He mentioned that another drill, with double the power and strength of the present machines, had been ordered, and would probably operate "round the, Manawatu.”