NAURU PHOSPHATES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 241, 6 July 1920, Page 5

NAURU PHOSPHATES

Sir,—Referring to your articlo appearing in The Dominion dated .luno 30, I notice that Mr. 3'. UFCombs states that lie had seen statements made that the Pacific Phosphate Company vere making hugo profits out. of the Bale of their interests in tho islands. I will admit that this is so, but it cannot lie compared with the huge profits which this company is surrendering by the sale of their interests in these 'islands. If the Pacific Phosphate Company lmd retained their interests in those islands, they could have charged practical'.}' any price for phosphates in future years, and thereby accumulated enormous profits. Now that the combined Governments have pur chased these is'.ande, the farmer and (he country generally must benefit by being able to purchase. phosphates at* n far cheaper rate than they would have been nb'.e to do had tho Pacific Phosphate Company retained the control of tho islands.

I also notice that Mr. J, A. Young has asked what arrangements were to 1» mado to aiUow rook from tho inlands to

he shipped to New Zealand. During my residence on Nauru Island, no rock was ever taken away from the island. Th» plant in existence on. each island is capablo of crushing the whole of the rock. I agree with the Prime Minister's statement that there wiE be a 'profit on the venture, and I consider that the Government will be able to sell phosphates to the farmer at a very cheap price, and still 6how a fair margin of profit. Eefcrring to the question of Habour on the islands, referred to by Mr. H. E. Holland. Mr. Massey states tiat now arrangements wia be made, and I shall be very interested to hear of -his proposals in this direction. No manual! labour such as is required for the production of phosphates at the islands can be undertaken by Europeans, owing to climatio conditions. The only possible hops of working theso islands to advantage is by coo.io and Kanaka labour, There is an abundance of this loboui offering. If Mr. Holland has nuy idea that coolie and Kanaka labour is 10 ceaso on these islands, tho money that the New Zealand Government has expended (.£600,000) is thrown away. In order to secure an abundant supply of phosphates, the work must be done by coolie and Kanaka P.abour. If Mr. Holland thinks otherwise, I can produce figures and facts in an endeavour to convince him that while labour could not be profitably employed. Mr. Massey has made the statement that the rock would come to New Zealand in a rough state. There is absolutely no necessity for the phosphate rock to como to New Zealand at all, as on both Nauru and Ocean Island there is a valuable and efficient pant for dealing with the phosphate rock. For the information of your leaders, perhaps a brief description of the islands may not be out of place. Nauru, tho principal isf.and, is situated in tho Pacific, approximately 2400 miles> from Sydney, and 2200 miles from Auckland, The approximate size is five miles by. three miles, and is about 80 feet above sea levei. This island contains an unlimited supply of phosphates. Tho percentage of phosphate rook is small, therefore a great deal of crushing is not required. In 1915 there was a staiF of about SO Europeans, all mechanics r .nd experts in various branches, supervising tho production of phosphates. Indentured labour accounted for approximately WOO coolies find Kanakas. Tho plant consists of crushers, dryers, storage bins, etc., and without a doubt it is the most up-to-date plant in tho world for dealing with the phosphates. There is also an electrio plant on the island. A huge wireless plant, which cost ,£95,000 to build is also on Nauru. The same general remarks apply to Ocean Island, which is situated' about 200 miles distant from Nauru. The phosphates produced from Ocean Island are not as rich, in quality as those from Nauru. Analysis shows that Nauru phosphates are 15 per cent, better than those from Ocean Island. The phosphates have to bo transported from the wharves at the islands to tho cargo steamers by means of surf bents, and in certain seasons of tho year the. weather conditions render the loading of cargo steamers impossible. The approximate amount which can be loaded in favourable weather is 750 tons of phosphate per day. The natives on the island arc thoroughly well fed and cared for. Each compound has an interpreter, rind all grievances are adjusted by the Resident Commissioner, who gives them a goodhearing.-lam,etc i , dtolet> Palmerston North, July 2,