FRENCH OIL FIND

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20911, 16 September 1939, Page 9

FRENCH OIL FIND

BIGGEBT IN EUROPE IMPORTANCE TO ALLIES (From a Correspondent) LONDON, Aug. 19 An oilfield greater than any yet found in Europe has been discovered in the department of Haute Garonne. France. The committee of experts appointed last year to tour France for oil report that, if properly worked, the ‘•find” will make France and Britain independent of outside sources of petrol supply in the event of war. British experts have been called In to test the findings, and they have confirmed the view of the French experts. The French Government has allocated a considerable subsidy to permit the exploitation of their field, and it is believed that It will be possible to obtain results in the autumn. British aid is being sought, and in addition to a subsidy from the British Government, private capitalists have agreed to put down considerable sums to permit exploitation of the oilfields. A touch of irony is added to the discovery by the fact that the owner of the property on which it was made is a German. He has been paid compensation and invited to leave the country. French experts, as well as British, attach the highest importance to the discovery, and believe it is certain to play a big, even decisive, part in future ware.