PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 7

PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.

LOWER IMPORTS LAST YEAR. The report and accounts for the eleventh year, ended June 30th, of the Nauru-Ocean Islands phosphate business, under the control of the Board of Commissioners, show that adverse weather conditions hindered shipments from Nauru and Ocean Islands for several months in the earlier part of the year, and the demand for phosphate in Australia and New Zealand fell off considerably in the latter part of the year, owing to depressed trade conditions. Shipments for the year wete: —To Australia, 267,937 tons—-68.19 per cent.; and to New Zealand, 125,002 tons —31.81 per cent., making a total of 392,939 tons. In addition, the commissioners distributed in Australia 124,607 tons, and in New Zealand 22,935 tons of phosphate purchased from other sources. The f.o.b. cost, as shown by the accounts, includes a sum of £224,053, being interest at 6 per cent, upon the purchase price paid for the business by the Governments, and contribution to a sinking fund for the redemption of the capital sum in 50 years, in accordance with article 11 of the agreement of July 2nd, 1919. Have you anything to sell—Do you wish to buy? It so a small advertisement in the classified section oi Ih> Press will h® all you need. 12 words Is. three insertions 2s 6d. •—&