PHOSPHATES FOR FARMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 253, 24 October 1919, Page 10

PHOSPHATES FOR FARMERS.

J ADVANTAGES AND COSTS. ! j XAURU AGREEMENT APPROVED. . I (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") ! j Wd___GTON, Thursday. | The Prime Minister, in the House today, moved: "That Parliament ratify the agreement between the Governments , of Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand in regard to control over the phosphate deposits at Nauru Island.' He stated that New Zealand would have the right to 16 per cent of the annua) . output of phosphate, and would, contri ; bute that proportion toward expenses of administration. This allocation i_ to ' be subject to review after five years. He was strongly of opinion that the agreement would be of immense benefit. Mr. Forbes: When will we get the first ' shipment ? I Mr. Massey: We can get phosphates , from the company, which is carrying on in the interval. Sir Joseph Ward stated that he was disappointed with the agreement in several important particulars. Before the ; war phosphates were purchased for export from Ocean Island at L'-O/ a ton, now the price was £2. It was a good thing to have an assured supply, but there ought to have been .a maximum amount fixed as compensation to the phosphate company specified. Mr. T. M. Wilford urged the Government to have a refining plant erected on Nauru, and purchase a steamer to convey its product to New Zealand, so that farmers would not be charged too high a price for these services. ■ Mr. Massey, in reply, said New Zealand's share of the phosphates was worth at least £2,500,000, while 1G per cent of the estimated cost, according to one authority, was £400,000, so that New Zealand would get a good bargain. The value of the company's interest would be fixed by arbitration. He believed phosphate could be placed free on board at Nauru at £1 a ton, but its great- imTjortance wa. the existence of an unlimited supply. Tt would be a legitimate thing to purchase shipping for its conveyance to New Zealand. The Government would not be in a position to manufacture superphosphates, therefore the supply w-ould be sold to Xew Zealand manufacturers of fertilisers. j Tlie resolution -was agreed to.