A NEW INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2874, 12 September 1916, Page 6

A NEW INDUSTRY

-—-♦ PETROL PROM. WASTE PRODUCTS. An interesting story of tho initial stages in tko development of a new Australian industry was told at a Parliamentary inspection of the works of the Stock Motor Spirit Company at South Melbourne last week. The works at present are of modest .dimensions, but the management claims tliat, given proper encouragement, which thoy nave not received, except in Victoria, up till now, they oau/on a profitable basis and a.t a lesser cost to the consumer, supply sufficient petrol for the whole Australian market. At present petrol to the value of £15,000,U00 per annum is imported into the Commonwealth. If this trado can be captured and the increasing demands met, as the management of the company declares can be done, then the new industry will havo an ample, field for Bucceseful development. But, according to/ statements made, difficulties have been manufactured for the confpauy to overcome. A start was made in South Australia. The company's process, the invention of Mr. H. A. Stock, transforms the residue of Pintsch gas, or shale gas, by which name it is called in other States, into motor spirit. This residuo was previously regarded as ;i waste product; its greatest utility was as a weed-killer or a spray for coal; 'but, the story goes, on being shown that from it petrol could bo produced, the South Australian Government commandeered supplies, and is iteelf experimenting, with the lwpo of utilising it for petrol manufacture. Consequently the company has removed its works to Melbourne, and has been guaranteed by the Railway Department a supply of Pintsch gas residue to tho extent of 80 gallons per day. In addition, the company has entered into arrangements with other States, and has in contemplation tho utilisation of considerable quantities of crude shale, of which there are almost inexhaustible quantities in Tasmania. The works, which have a capacity of 600 gallons por day, were inspected in every department, and tho waste product, a black, oily substance, which refused to ignite, was put through various procosses, and finally evolved 50 per cent, motor spirit and the balance ; fuel oil. It is averred that with the Australian motor spirit cars can bo run miles further per gallon th?n with imported spirit, and that the Australian product is cleaner and cooler. The visitors were certainly very favourably impressed by the inspection.