The OH absorption line at 1667 MHz has been traced from III = 2� to 4�15' near the galactic plane. Line profiles and contours of apparent opacity are presented. The measurements have completed the general picture of absorbing hydroxyl gas in the vicinity of the galactic centre and suggest the existence of a gradient of radial velocities of values near -136 km sec-1 at III = 359� to values near + 41 km sec-1 at III = 3�30'.