OREPUKI SHAKE

Southland Times, Issue 19291, 9 July 1924, Page 5

OREPUKI SHAKE

BONUS ON PRODUCT WANTED. PETITION FROM SOUTHLAND. (Our Parliamentary Reporter), WELLINGTON, July 8. A bonus of three-pence per gallon on crude shale oil produced at Orepuki (Southland) during a period of eight years, conditional upon the production of oil and other products being resumed within 12 months, was asked in a petition presented in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) on behalf of local bodies and others in Southland. It was stated that about 25 years ago an English Company established extensive shale works at Orepuki. The discontinuance of Customs duties on shale products, oil, parrafin, wax, etc., caused the closing of the works. A bulk test was made four and a-half years ago, 57 tons of shale from the seam being sent to Scotland. The result showed an average yield per ton of 34.41 gallons of crude oil and 19.12 lb. of sulphate of ammonia. The various oils and solid parrafin were reported to resemble the products from Scotch shale. It was further claimed that the existing works were still quite modern and their capacity could be increased from 60 to 250 tons a day. The plant had been maintained in good order and the difficulties experienced in the treatment of the shale owing to its richness had been overcome. In addition to the bonus a request was made for assistance in the matter of railway freights.