PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSION

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1922, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSION

When the Mines Department vote of £54,783 was being discussed in Parliament, Dr. Newman questioned whether the vote for prospecting did any good. Year after year we spent large sums but we never found anything. He urged greater concentration on the development of natural gas and oil. Mr S. G. Smith (Taranaki) said that the Minister was heartily co-operating with enthusiasts in Taranaki, who still had faith in oil ventures in that province, lie advocated the Minister re-opening negotiations with the Anglo-Persian Company, so as to get the benefit of their world-wide experience applied to the Taranaki field. Mr T. W. Rhodes (Thames) strongly advocated more liberal assistance to prospecting, which would repay all the money spent. Sir .John Luke put in a word for more earnest development of Taranaki iron sand ami Para para iron oil. The Hon. G. J. Anderson defended the work of prospectors which was most valuable to the country.