Petroleum in Southland

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 June 1939, Page 6

Petroleum in Southland

“It has been claimed that there are definite indications of petroleum oil in Southland, the character of the terrain in certain localities being favourable for oil accumulation,” states the annual report of the Southland Progress League. A communication on the subject was addressed to the Minister of Mines (Mr P C. Webb) and he advised that while it was not the present intention of the Government itself to search for oil the object of the Petroleum Act, 1937. was to encourage the prospecting for, and mining of. petroleum. It was pointed out that influential and powerful oil companies had become interested and were actively engaged ' different parts of New Zealand. The league had got into direct touch with the two companies in question, the report added, and supplied each concern with available geological information likely to be of some value. It was pleasing to report that the League’s communications were appreciated by the companies, for each had expressed its keen interest. One company had stated that it hoped in a month or two, to send an expert to Southland to augment the evidence it had about the oil prospects of the district.