The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1912. OIL AND STOPPAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 209, 10 May 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1912. OIL AND STOPPAGES.

The enormous influence oil has on modern commerce is shown by the "scare" that has been felt in New Zealand recently over the shortage of imported benzine. The average person gives bo thought to the fact that the power generated by oil in most parts of the civilised world is absolutely controlled in America, that a small group of gigantic financiers could easily stop the bulk of ■the world's motor traffic, and that the same group could effectually handicap thousands of enterprises. A stoppage of motor car traffic in New Zealand would impress the people with the 'tremendous importance of oil in modern commerce. In New Zealand, a stoppage of supplies would mean that hundreds of medical ■men who have got out of the habit of using horse traction would be handicapped in using the healing art. On many roadk in New Zealand the traction is largely supplied by imported benzine. In the Sounds country and elsewhere settlers are dependent on John Rockefeller for the motive power for the indispensable oil launches, which take the place of horse-drawn vehicles. In fact, up to now America has allowed us to use motor cars, oil launches, and oil engines for various activities. Everyone is aware that our American cousins are not philanthropists. The convenience of the people of New Zealand is of no concern to them. They would not hesitate to close down on this insignificant commercial outpost if it suited them to do so. Such warnings, however, as the shortage of American petrol are of great utility. They show us that self dependence is absolutely necessary. They emphasise the point that it is only a matter of development, and that we might be absolutely independent of the American oil magnates. Years ago the Minister of Railways promised that as it did not pay to run more frequent trains on some busy sections of New Zealand railways—■ particularly suburban lengths—he would introduce motor trains. The promise has been forgotten, and it would have been necessary to call in the aid of John Rockefeller in order to make the increase

of traffic possible. Now, it is clear that New Zealand can snap its fingers at all foreign trustmongers, if it decides to do so. The inability of the Taranaki oilfields to deal just now with a sudden emergency because of the absence of a refinery is merely a reminder of the treir.imlous potentialities of our own resources. Not only oil, but in thousands of other lines we are weakly dependent on the outsider for supply. A naval war would rob us of these supplies, and the vagaries of a foreign commercial group would hamper us for months. It is our clear duty in every way possible to fight the inclination to lean on the foreigner. We are good little customers to the foreigner. We ought to be good big customers to the New Zealander. In the matter of oil, there has never been any doubt during the past two years that the New Zealand oilfields can not only find a magnificent market for oil but can make New Zealand independent of the foreigner. At any future time when there is a threatened shortage of oil for power it will be a disgrace to New Zealand if she cannot supply it.