Seeking Oil In

Territories

New Ordinance Causes Flutter

AN announcement that an amendment of the ordinances governing the search for oil in Papua and New Guinea has been submitted by Canberra for con sideration by the Legislative Councils of those two territories has caused some thing of a flutter among oil interests.

Nothing official is known about the pro posed new law, but the circumstances suggest that probably it is designed to encourage the continuance of the oil search in Papua and New Guinea, either by way of greater subsidies or increased concessions.

It must be remembered that, for nearly two years, the three main companies con cerned have been spending huge sums on the search for oil—Papua Oil Develop ments, Ltd. (Shell) in Papua, and Islands Explorations, Ltd. (Vacuum) and OH Search, Ltd. (an Australian concern) in both Papua and New Guinea.

They have not found oil; but there is nothing to indicate that they have lost confidence in the enterprise. On the con trary, it is reasonable to suppose that, having gone so far, they are prepared to go a long way farther; but, probably, be fore they undertake still greater expen diture, they require a better title to the various areas than they have at present.

Then there is the matter of the “un controlled areas”, in Papua and New Gumea. It is impossible to make the oil search complete unless it embraces those regions. It is realised that the present ban on entry to at least some portions of the areas cannot continue much longer.

After a lengthy holiday in Sydney, Mrs.

Arthur R. Miller and her small son are returning to Wewak, T.N.G. Mrs. Miller will leave her only daughter at “Kambala”

School, and her eldest son at Scots College, Sydney. Mr. Arthur R. Miller, of the Administration staff, returned by the June “Macdhui”.