LACK OF OIL SUPPLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 11

LACK OF OIL SUPPLY

AUSTRALIA’S DEFECT SEARCH IN NEW ZEALAND IREAT IMPORTANCE OF PROJECT The importance of supplies of fuel .nd lubricating oils to meet the reuirement of industries, including land ea, and air transport, in Australia, nd to a lesser extent in New Zealand, /as emphasised by Sir Colin Fraser, resident of the Australian Mines and letals Association, when speaking ecently in Melbourne. “The lack of a supply of indigenous ow oil is obviously one of Australia’s erious deficiencies, and this is receivtg much wider recognition now that reparations are being made by tne efence authorities and by industry to teet a possible period of emergency,’’ aid Sir Colin Fraser. "Plans for disilling certain deposits of oil-shale in lew South Wales are being expedited, ut production from this source, from he country's by-product coking lants, and from the distillation of inustrial alcohol, will meet only a fracion of increased storages of imported ils is the only practicable safeguard, nd this is having attention. "The activities and provisions which have mentioned should, however, go and in hand with expediting and exending the search for flow oil. Last ear I strongly voiced the opinion that mstralia should not hesitate to adopt he broadminded policy followed by he United Kingdom and just recenty by New Zealand and enact suitable egislation which will attract the large >il interests and encourage them to mter the field of exploration. “It is a matter of considerable importance to Australia that the oil >earch in New Guinea, and also in dew Zealand, is now proceeding expeditiously, in both places backed by 31-itish, American and local capital, ind conducted by experienced techlologists. It is true that oil won would lave to be transported by sea to, say, vlelbourne, Sydney, and other Austra.ian capital cities, but. the distance, particularly from New Zealand,’would pe very much shorter and the routes ess vulnerable than from the existing jources of supply-