TIMELY TOPICS

Northern Advocate, 23 January 1936, Page 6

TIMELY TOPICS

OIL FROM COAL. The British coal trade no longer holds the world in fee, and on its own territory it has to meet the competition in oil, notes the London “Observer.” Until it has transformed itselef into an oli-producer its conditions and outlook cannot be other than arduous and depressing. Among all the national problems immediately confronting Britain there is none of equal moment. It has a vital bearing both on. defence and on prosperity. The Army, Navy and Air Force are all dependent on imported oil. The manifest hazards of that situation would be removed if a fluid fuel derived from our own soil were everywhere at their disposal. Such a supply would change to our advantage the whole balance of foreign trade. Internally, it would enhance the value of every ton drawn from the mines, and overcome the difficulty of squeezing a living wage out of it, while, as a “by-product,” * we should have a complete dismissal of the smoke nuisance and a brightening of the general landscape of industry. Op the completion of this purpose the whole force of national thought and knowledge, administration, and resource, ought to be centred. Our prospects of safety, wealth and well-being all hinge upon it. From many of our present handicaps and embarrassments there is no other direct deliverance.

<*> <♦> a* Words of Wisdom. M<m has always humour enough to make merry with what he cannot help. —Goethe. <s><s> <J> Tale of the Day. Bill: “Beats me why they call these cinema attendants ushers.” Emma: “ Don’t he silly, Bill. Don’t they ’ave to tell people to keep quiet? ”