OIL PROSPECTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1940, Page 4

OIL PROSPECTING

GOOD RESULTS ANTICIPATED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I am optimistic enough to believe that we will have a shower of oil in this country before we are much older,” said the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, during consideration of the Estimates of the Mines Department. Details were given by the Minister of boring operations for oil and geophysical and geological survey work being carried out on the East Coast, in Taranaki, on the West Coast of the South Island and in the Manawatu. Replying to Mr Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton), who had asked if there was any likelihood of oil being found in New Zealand on a commercial basis, the Minister said he could not say if oil would be found, but the prospects were very good. An enormous amount of money, well ovei’ £1,000,000, had been spent in the search for oil. The big oil companies which were operating in New Zealand would not be spending money if the prospects were not bright. The best brains and plant were at the service of the Dominion. “I believe there is just as much chance of getting oil here as in other parts of the world,” said Mr Webb.