CAMELS AND DONKEYS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1930, Page 9

CAMELS AND DONKEYS

OIL SHIPS OF AUSTRALIAN

DESERT

(From "Tho Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, 10th June. Long strings of camels and donkey teams are- familiar sights in Central Australia, and in many cases are the only links between the small desert communities and civilisation. They now, however, are principally used to carry fuel and oil for aeroplanes and motorcars, and were it not for their reliability in tho transport of petroleum products in these regions, many of the trips by aviators and oycrlandcrs would be impossible. Before an aviator or motorist can penetrate far over tho desert stretches into the outback parts of Australia ho must first make sure that supplies of motor spirit and oil for his engine are available- at regular intervals along tho route. He therefore has to make arrangements for dump 3of oil and fuel at places where he can conveniently pick them up. The vehicles by which tho oil, spirit, and other necessaries arc conveyed over country too rugged for other transport are these camel or donkey teams. Tho wooden cases in which the motor spirit is conveyed are in keen demand among people in the interior where timber is scarce. It is a common sight to sea tables, beds, and other furniture made out of cases bearing the imprint of a brand of motor spirit, and in several remote settlements all tho houses have been, built from tho "empties."