WHALING IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 11

WHALING IN AUSTRALIA

STATION LEASED TO NORWEGIANS POTENTIAL VALUE OF INDUSTRY <From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, Jan. 30. The Point Cloates (Western Australia) whaling station has been subleased by an Australian company to Lars Christensen, a Norwegian, one of the world’s leading whaling operators. In a statement, Mr A. G. Noble and Mr D. G. Stead, directors of the Australian Whaling Company, which has held the station on lease since 1929, said: “ Because of the increased interest which is being taken in our rich whaling grounds by foreign companies, it is imperative that Australians be given the support necessary to develop their own industry. The Russians, Germans, and Japanese are showing great interest in our whaling wealth, and unless effective control within its territorial waters is exercised by the Government, the time will come when our whaling resources will be depleted. As a safeguard against illicit whaling in territorial waters, the company has arranged with the Western Australian Government to employ inspectors on Christensen’s ships.” The Australian Whaling Company, Mr Noble and Mr Stead stated, had been in negotiation with the Federal Government throughout 1936. It was therefore untrue to say that Australians were not interested in developing their own industry. It had asked for a loan secured by the value of its plant at Point Cloates, and additional capital which could be obtained. It had been informed, however, that, as private capital was probably available for the industry, the Government could not see its way clear to become financially interested in the enterprise. The company's plans provide for whaling throughout the year at Point Cloates, in the Antarctic, and off Jervis Bay, in New South Wales. Whale oil is now bringing £22 a ton. In eight weeks last year, two factory ships working off Point Cloates took 20,000 tons of oil worth £420,000.