OIL IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 156, 29 March 1926, Page 7

OIL IN AUSTRALIA

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AMERICAN INTERFERENCE ' • Melbourne, March 27. In the House of Representatives, during the tariff debate, dealing with the item, crude oil, Mr, Waler Marks made serious allegations regarding what he claimed to be American interference with the attempts to find oil in the Lander and Roma bores in Queensland. He declared that a report from which he quoted had been presented to the directors, showing that an expert secured from America had admitted that he took steps to get the drillers off the field so that he could secure sole control. When he did get control, he blocked the bore and exploded a gelignite charge inside the casing. The renort further stated that the expert’s reckless expenditure had cost the company £BO,OOO. Furthermore, it w.as alleged that documents found in his office showed that lie was sending geological information regarding the company’s doings to America, and that he had done everything possible to block the company’s work. The company had not taken criminal proceedings, and had allowed the “expect to return to America out of consideration for his wife alone. —Press Assn.