COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18014, 5 March 1924, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

NAURU ISLAND.

QUESTION IN COMMONS. BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS. •>i- CABLE —i-bess association copyright.) AND V.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Ke "lve.; March 4th, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, March 4. In the House of Commons, Sir William Milch ell-Thomson (Conservative) moved to reduce a vote of £106.000 by | £SO.O0 f >. o:. ihe ground that £26,000 was suffirient for purchasing machinery and for other development -work at Nauru and Octal: Islands. Sir William said he wished to elicit ] 'information. The sum of £106.000] vas P.ri;;.in Vs share of the profits, and the Commons were asked to put that sum brn-k into the business. But it v.:lh first necessary to know something : bout the prospects of the business as .•ominereial undertaking. .Mr J. 11. Thomas (Secretary of State ; or the Colonies), replying, said that :iic Labour Government was in a way " sponsible for the vote. The reason .:<>r" the contract was that phosphates were vital to the world, and only one per cent. of the world's deposits existed in the Empire. The contract had proved not at all jad. After the war America, owing to jconomic circumstances, was able to lump surplus supplies in Britain, with the result that. Britain was not able to take her quota of the Nauru supplies; but Australia and New Zealand had been able to take all. The island was administered under mandate, and they had no right to assume that Australia would abuse her 1 rust. If f>he did, there would be an appeal to'the League of Nations. There was a net profit of £194,474 in 2921-2, so the contract was a fairly good busi- ; ness deal. j Major Davi-v (Conservative) asked J what were Britain's liabilities. Were the people of this country going to get j aclual benefits from the undertaking? During the' first two years not a pound of phosphates came to Britain, yet we subscribed 42 per cent, of the capital used to assist Australia and New Zealand to get tlicir supplies on charity. Mr J. \V. Black (Liberal) criticised the condition of Chinese labour on Nauru. He had been informed that at one port there were 500 Chinamen and only two women. Did the House consider it satisfactory and proper that hundreds of thousands of labourers should be without their wives? He did not charge the Secretary of State for the Colonies with the slightest responsibility; but lie should examine the matter, and see if the nation's hands were clean. Captain Bowyer (Conservative) said that Mr Thomas .should satisfy himself that all information regarding Nauru was fully sifted. Mr G. Joyce said that in view of the conditions of labour at Home, all talk about Chinese, who could look after themselves, was sickly sentimentality. Captain Berkeley (Liberal) said it was the olear duty of the Government to investigate Mr Black's allegations. The Government should also examine the housing of Chinese and the health and education of the native population. Colonel John Ward (Independent) re. sented accusations being made against Australia's administration. Similar accusations were made and refuted by the League of Nations iD 1922, the whole Council coining to the conclusion that they were unjustified. Captain Berkeley: "There is no accusation against Australia. We have drawn attention to the manner in which contracts are made with China." Mr Thomas, replying, explained that the original capital was receiving six per "cent, interest. The money mentioned in the amendment was surplus profit, to be nsed for a steamer to convey labourers and supplies, and .for the building of plant and a light railway, and the purchase of the royalty rights the German company which held the Kauru concession. Already £. 14&,000 tad been paid to the Public Trustee as v set-off against the reparations. What had been said about the Chinise would be communicated to the Australian Government;' but it must not be taken that he accepted the statements as accurate. Provision was made for their wives, but the Chinamen, for reasons of their own, did not desire to bring them. ~ Ab an appeal could be made to the League of Nations, he could quite legitimately ignore the whole matter; but the relationship between the Dominions and ourselves was such that ■ we need not treat each other as enemies. He certainly did not propose to do it. If there was complaint, Australia would be as ready to consider it *as we would if Australia complained to us. It would be only in that sense that communication would be made to Australia. The House adopted the Nauru vote, after rejecting the motion for reduction.

CHILLED BEEF. NEW ZEALAND SHIPMENT. 'AOBTHAUAN AND H.I. CABLI ASSOCIATION.) (Received March 4th, 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. In the Commons, Viscount Curzon asked whether the New Zealand experimental shipment of chilled beef aboard the Kent was treated with formaldehyde. Mr Arthur Greenwood (Parliamentary Secretary of Health) replied in the affirmative. The shipment was sent for the purpose of enabling the Food Preservative Committee to investigate the effect of the process. If expert exam, ination showed that meat treated by this process was unfit for human consumption, he undertook to prevent the shipment reaching the market. B.A.W.R.A. (SIDNTBT "SUX" SKB VIC*.) (Received March 3rd, 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 3. In the House of Commons, Mr W. Graham (Financial Secretary to the Treasury), interrogated, explained tlife wrigin of 8.A.W.R.A., which has paid the British Government £27,831,1& i as ihe net proceeds of wool sold. It is expected that the last of Britain's wool will be auctioned at Liverpool on May 2nd.

RABBITSKIN PRICES.

(special TO "THX PEESS.")

DUNEDIN", March 4. E.kbbiters and others throughout New Zealand will be pleased to learn that a private cablegram Teceived in Dunedin to-day ad▼iees that a sharp advance in the prices for medium and lower qualities is expected at the London sales, which open oa the 19th inst.