NEW GUINEA

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1939, Page 12

NEW GUINEA

HOPE OF OIL STRIKE. SYDNEY. February 25. New Guinea might yet prove the reservoir from which Australia, if cut off from the rest of the world by war, might draw the oil vital for her defence. That view was expressed by the Lieutenant-Governor of Papua, Sir Hubert Murray, who has arrived here on leave. In an attempt to find oil. big Ameri-

| can companies were pouring thou--1 sands of pounds into the country, reI suiting in prosperity and employment.” he said. “It is a most hopeful sign for Australia." said Sir Hubert Murray. “These companies are not philanthropists. If they are spending such huge sums of money, it is because they are convinced that there is oil there to reward the finder amply for his courage in making such tremendous outlay.” Sir Hubert Murray said that at least six big companies were operating in the territory. They worked secretly, and. so far. only a few trusted officers of each company knew the result of their labours. “They are spending millions as you and 1 spend ninepence,” he said.

I “The country during the last couple . of years has advanced considerably,” he said. “Employment of both whites 1 and blacks has increased, and the population is mounting. 1 ascribe this mostly to the money being spent in the search for oil. and to rubber. More and more rubber is being planted. and present indications are that tlie industry will soon be important both to New Guinea and Australia, its natural market. This industry lias made money more plentiful.” Sir Hubert Murray said that. New Guinea had no German problem, and > few of the inhabitants knew of the suggestions made in Sydney that for-' mer German New Guinea should be I handed back to Germany. “All we know is that we are British,” he said. I