SHALE OIL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 November 1931, Page 7

SHALE OIL

australia's hope SENATGR'S OPTIMISM BIRTH OF NEW 1NDUSTEY. The birth -of the sha-.e cil industry and the development of the gold production are regarded by Seaator Daly, Assistant Minister of Industry, as .two important faotors to restore Australia to prosperity. His consultations with the Shale Oil Committee ,he said, had convinoed him that. these industries afforded the principal immediate remedy to the ■chaotio results due to the fall in the price of wool and wheat. "The present stage of the commit- | tee's investigations," he said, "take ■the future of shale right out of the ■speculative. Within a few weeks there will be tangible evidences of this, and the possibilities of the industry are 50 per cent. more favourable than was dreamed of by the most ! sanguine member when the eommii- ; tee started its investigations." S The committee estimated that the production of shale oil would give

direot employment to 40,uuu people, whioh meant a livelihood for upwards of 100,000, besides the considerable indirect employment that would result. •Gold mining was capable of glving direct employment .to a furtlier 10,000. "The depression has taught us the value of aetual productive work over mere roads and bridge construction," said Senator 'Daly. "There is an assured oonsumption of 1,000,000 gallons of shale oil a year in one New South Wales mine alone." One point which had impressed members of the Shale Oil Committee, he said, was that the content of oil in New South Wales shale was unexcelled anywhere in the world. "It will help wonderfully," he added, "to keep us going and restore the purchasing power which disappeared with the fall of wool and wheat and the consequent collapse of the ■loan expenditure, on which so many thousands depended for their livelihood." The fact that operations at Newnes were to begin .caused much rejoicing. It is expected that 100 men will be employed at the works, but the mining of the shale will not be attempted till la-ter. Men who were employed at Newnes when the industry closed down, and who are now out of work, are to have preference of employment. Mr Hamilton Knight, M.L.A., ehairmen of the Shale Oil Committee, stated that the -committee was assured of a .market not only for crude oil, but for petrol.