OIL SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22399, 21 April 1936, Page 5

OIL SUPPLIES

WORLD PRODUCTION VITAL NEED STRESSED RECORD FIGURES REACHED "The importance of adequate supplies of liquid fuel has beeit forced on the attention of various world Powers during the past year by the growing nnsettlement in international affairs and the necessity for increasing stocks for national defence purposes," states the annual review number of tho Mining Journal. "The proceedings of the League of Nations' Commission at Geneva have emphasised how essentially any modern campaign must rely on the lavish consumption of gasoline for aviation purposes, and reminded us that navies are moved to-day almost solely by means of fuel oil. While the stocking of national supplies of crude and refined' contributed, especially in the latter months of the year, to an increased world demand, the chief agent was tho enormous development in the automobile industry of the United States as well as the steady recovery elsewhere. "The world production last year was easily a record, amounting to 1,645,663,000 barrels, representing an advance of 126,000,000 barrels on tho figures of 1934, which had been tho record output until then. Over and above this world production of natural gasoline and synthetic products is estimated at some 60,000,000 barrels. Thus tho oil industr3' has again resumod its steady progression of annual records which was interrupted only in 1930, 1931 and 1932. The United States showed by" far tho biggest increase, claiming some 87,500,000 barrels of tho total world gain with a total of slightly over 990,500,000 barrels. Tho new field of Irak showed the next largest gain of approximately 17.6 million barrels, with a total of 26.7 million. "While the .increase in the United States was the outstanding feature of the year, the total fell short of that of 1929, but, in spite of tho big increase shown, some 22,000,000 barrels were withdrawn from storage. Thus the feeling of confidence which has been increasingly prominent as the year drew to its close is readily explained. While there were no big now flush fields forcing unwanted supplies of oil on tho market, an exceptionally largo number of wells were bored, exceeding any year since 1929." __ AUSTRALIAN COAL PURCHASE DEFERRED POWER BOARD'S REQUIREMENTS An explanation made by tho Auckland Electric-Power Board, to the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, of the board's action in seeking quotations last February for 900 tons of Newcastle slack coal, was tho subject of a letter received from tho Minister at a meeting of the board yesterday. In aii earlier letter, tho general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, explained to the Minister that the Newcastle coal was for a special purpose, being a reserve stock tho board required to carry and store for many years in all probability. New Zealand coals were not suitable for storage over long periods except under water, and as the board had no means of storing it in this way it had been forced on to the Australian market. Tho order had not been placed, however, and the matter raised by the Minister had introduced tho question of providing storage for New Zealand coal under water. "I am particularly pleased that you have withheld the acceptance of any order for Newcastle coal meantime, pending completion of estimates for providing suitable storage for Now Zealand coals, the use of which, I am glad to observe, your board is out to encourage in preference to any other," ' tho Minister said in his letter. "I would be glad if you would kindly advise me later what ultimate pction your board decides to take." The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, said the general manager would be in a position in about a fortnight to report on the storage of Waikato slack. NELSON APPLE CROP FAR SHORT OF ESTIMATE PEARS PROBABLY A RECORD While the Nelson pear crop will probably constitute a record for tho district tho apple crop will fall far short of growers' early bookings, as the crop lias not graded so well as anticipated. Considerable quantities of fruit have had to bo discarded for russet, leaf roller, black spot and minor defects, said Mr. J. H. Thorp, orchard instructor. The weather during October and November was very unfavourable for spraying, which accounted for increased black spot development and russeting of apples, but pears generally were very free from black spot and in appearance were well up to tho standard of last season. This season very little trouble has been experienced with leaf hopper and tho red mite pest, probably due to the heavier rainfall at short intervals up to the end of last year. The trees have retained a, good, healthy appearance right through tho season and very little foliage injury has resulted from spray applications and the attack of insect and fungous pests, and this will probably have a beneficial effect on next season's crop. Last week has concluded the picking and packing of the mid-season varieties of fruit and tho fine weather of the past three or four weeks has been appreciated by orcliardists. Jt has enabled the harvesting of tho Jonathans and Delicious to bo accomplished under ideal conditions, and these varieties should carry well overseas. Although tho crop of these varieties was quite good the export pack was not as large as anticipated. Colouring was slow in developing earlier in the season, resulting in a greater proportion of fancy and good grades than is usually tho case. An appreciable amount of eyorot was in evidence in the Jonathans and to a lesser extent in Delicious, and in combination with russeting and injury by leaf roller, and in some orchards an appreciable amount of black spot, tho exportable total was considerably reduced. Stunners on tho Nelson side of the district aro now coming forward in increasing quantity and promise to yield well, but in some instances tho fruit is small in size, especially in the Stoke area. The Statesman crop is also a good one, but in some instances late black spot infection will reduce tho exportable quantity. Granny Smiths will show an increase over previous seasons as many of tho trees regraftcd during the recent years are now coming into bearing. Dougherty and Rokewood aro colouring well this year and should bo well up to the average quantity.