OIL FOR THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 166, 3 April 1918, Page 8

OIL FOR THE NAVY

9 . GREAT POSSIBILITIES IN THE OLD COUNTRY. An authoritative statement on tho possibility of producing all the oil Britain requires for the Navy and for other purposes by developing homo resources was made recently to a representative of "The Observer" by Mr. E. H. Cunningham Craig. Mr. Craig is technical assistant to Sir Boverton Redwood in the Petroleum Executive, and was formerly Senior Geologist to tho Petroleum Research Department, which was under the Admiralty. "Long before these departments were formed," ho said, "I conducted researches oil my own account into cannel coals and allied deposits, and when the Petroleum Research Department was formed I placed the results of these researches and all my time at their disposal. I am satisfied that a large new industry can be started in this country and worked profitably even in peace time. Both petrol and fuel oil could be produced in fairly large quantities. I am, however, obviously not at liberty to make any statement on what has occurred since I became attached to tho departments referred to." Another high authority, in a statement mado to our representative, coilfirmed the opinion that at least 100,000,000 gallons of oil a year can be produced by developing our homo resources. "This possibility," lie said, "has been well known to geologists and others for a considerable time. It would seem strange, therefore, that, having tho 'wherewithal for the production of immonse quantities of valuable oil at hand wo are to-day entirely dependent upon the oil which has to run the gauntlet of the U-boats, save the comparatively small quantity produced by tho Scotch' distillers. ■ "Mr Lloyd George's statement to the effect that thirty-five cargo boats now under construction had had to be converted into oiltankers, i.e., 1J- million tons of oil iustead of the tame quantity of food, not only gives rise to the question how many more boats would be available for the carriage of food if our own resources wene doveloped, but at once makes the whole subject more than ever one of most vital public interest. Why have theso known resources not been developed? Why, as a result, aro the people being deprived of food?

"When'the unlimited U-boat campaign became particularly active a Petroleum Research Department under the Admiralty was established by Dr. Addison. Tlie duties of this Depart- j mpnt were to investigate home sources of supply and methods of treatment. There are two methods of obtaining oil from bituminous material—the ■ hightemperature, and the low-temperature process. By the first-named system the | minimum amount of oil and the maximum amount of ammonium sulphate is obtained. The low-temperature process produces the. maximum amount of oil. "The high-temperature process is in j vogue in Scotland, and tlie vested interests therein , are very great and influential'. The general adoption of the low-temperature process by the Government would be a serious blow to i those financially interested in the hightumpcrature process. "To carry into effect the recommendations of the Research Department, Professor Cadman proposed that he should form and direct a Department, to be known as the Mineral Oil Production Department. Having secured the job, he appointed, an Advisory Board, comprising representatives of the leading Scotch oil companies. Research under the chairmanship of Mr. _E. G. Pretyman, M.P., and the able guidance of Sir Boverton Redwood as director, carried out exhaustive tests, and recommended the adoption of the lowtemperature process. "The Advisory Committee of Production naturally' had too much at | stake to advise production to carry out j the recommendations of research. •, Hence research recommended but production did not produce, and so we are short of oil, short of food, and in imminent danger of our oil being cut off altogether, to say nothing of the fact that a great national industry is being held back. x "Sir Boverton Redwood, the greatest authority in the land, has resigned from his position as Director of Petroleum Research. The Department ■ has even been abolished. Production has not ordered a single plant. What the public lias a right to know is:— (1) Why was the Research Department, which war, doinjj excellent work, abolished? (2} Who is the nresent Director of Production, and what are his qualifications to occupy the position of Director ? _ together with the right to call for a public inquiry into tho whole position, and the removal from office of those responsible for the abolition of the Eesearch Denartment, and the existing state of affairs."