MR HUGHES IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 10 December 1914, Page 8

MR HUGHES IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

Dozens of people were turned away from the Good Templar Hall last night, when it was filled to overflowing to hear Mr Hughes give his final address to the electors. The candidate was in fine form, and delivered a rousing address and appeal to the electors to support the Liberal party and himself. He severely criticised the inconsistency of the leaders of the present Government in their attitude towards all Liberal humanitarian legislation. Dealing with petroleum matters he said:—"lf I am returned as your representative I will endeavour to get the Liberal Government to assist the petroleum industry by, say, drilling test wells to a depth of 5500 .feet, and taking a proper geological record of each well to be kept at the Department's Office in Wellington in the following oil areas: (1) In the area around Moturoa now being developed by the Taranaki Oil Wells Ltd., The Blenheim Petroleum Co. Ltd., and The Phoenix Oil Co. Ltd. (2) In the area about Huiroa, Strathmore, and Purangi, now, being prospected by the Consolidated Oilfields of New Zealand, and over which' a geological survey is at present in progress. (3) In the area about Inglewood previously prospected by the Moa Petroleum Co. Ltd., and the Inglewood Oil and Prospecting Co. Ltd, The sites for prospecting wells to be selected by the Geological Department, Wellington. And, in addition to subsidising the boring of oil wells £ for £ up to, say £30,000, in any part of Taranaki, provided that eacli proposed well may be classed as a prospecting well and approved as such by the Geological Department." At the conclusion, Mr Hughes was warmly cheered, and on the motion of Mr E. Dockrill, was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.