PETROLEUM OIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 November 1937, Page 7

PETROLEUM OIL

NEW BILL TO COME BEFORE PARLIAMENT ' (Special to "The Mail"] WELLINGTON. This Day. The only boring lor petroleum oil carried out in 1936 consisted oi five shallow holes put down by Maoriland Oilfields Ltd., at Kotuku. from which ja total of 1188 gallons of oil was collected. A total of 157.891 Imperial gallons of crude petroleum oil was obtained by Moturoa Oilfields Ltd., at Moturoa from Nos. 1. 2 and 4 wells. The Dominion’s total production of crude petroleum oil to 31st December. 1936. is estimat'd at 2.631.337 gallons (reads the Mines Statement presented to the House). "In <he last Mines Statement 1 mentioned that legislation dealing with prospecting for and winning of petroleum was under review, and 1 expressed a hope that before long I would be able to bring down a new Bill, which 1 felt sure would be welcomed by al! persons genuinely interested in the development of the industry. "I am pleased now to announce that a comprehensive Bill has been prepared and will be submitted to Parliament in a very short time. "I am also very gratified to announce that if tlie Bill is passed there is little doubt but that major oil interests will make an immediate and vigorous effort to find petroleum in payable quantities. The products of petroleum have such far-reaching significance in our modern civilisation that there is scarcely any development which would mean more to the Dominion than the successful search for oil.”