OIL IN AUSTRALIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 591, 6 August 1913, Page 3

OIL IN AUSTRALIA.

Australia's initial ventures in the matter of the production of oil fuel have not been very promising (writes the Sydney correspondent of the Post). High expectations were formed when two concerns began work o;i the shale deposits in the northern and western regions of this State. On three occasions the annual production of oil shale in New South Wales has. been valued at over £IOO,OOO. But labour conditions and financial difficulties have for the time being at any rate, proved insuperable obstacles, and now practically all the oil works in this State have been shut down. There were big works on the north-west coast of Tasmania, but the cost of production left no profit when marketed, and the works ware closed down.' In Queensland the Roma works have proved a disppointment. There is no doubt about our possession of sources, large and rich, of the most up-tc-data fuel, but the problem of economic working has yet to be solved. Oi) fuel is, as everyone knows, the coming fuel. The march of the motor has only begun. The world's navies want oil fuel and plenty of it. Since it is an Australian ambition to be self-contained in modern requirements in defence as well as industrial matters, the experiences up to the present in the way of local production of oil fuel are very disappointing. It is being represented to attentive Ministers that this matter has*a very important national bearing, and the development of oil fuel resources on the Australian mainland as we'll as in Papua, where there are bright prospects, has an imperial as well as an Australian aspect. It is urged that the occasion is one on which even the strongest aversion on general grounds to "spoonfeeding" should not stand in the way of generous aid. The Federal Government promises that it is prepared to do whatever is required by circumstances, with due recognition of the need for securing constant supplies of oil fuel for the ships of the new Australian navy.