PHOSPHATE SUPPLIES SAFE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 288, 5 September 1928, Page 13

PHOSPHATE SUPPLIES SAFE

FORWARD CONTRACTS MADE

ISLAND SHIPMENTS DECLINE An assurance that the interests of New Zealand farmers in the matter of the supply of fertilisers for the next few years are being safeguarded, is contained in the report of the New Zealaud Commissioner, Mr. A. F. Ellis, on the British Phosphate Commission, submitted to Parliament yesterday. Mr. Ellis says that In order to. provide full supplies for the Dominion, even in the event of unforeseen difficulties at Nauru and Ocean Islands, purchases of outside phosphates have been made up to 1932 and options over further quantities have been obtained to be exercised should it become necessary. He remarks that in the phosphate market it is necessary to contract well ahead. Shipments of Nauru and Ocean Island phosphates during the year which ended on June 30 last totalled 501.915 tons, against 593,340 tons in the preceding year, a decrease of 91,425 tons. Of this quantity New Zealand took 124,270 tons, and Australia the balance. Bad weather at the islands, some labour troubles and an epidemic of sickness were largely responsible foi. the falling off in the shipments, but it is considered that the year’s exports were very satisfactory, having been exceeded only in the previous year, when particularly favourable conditions weie experienced throughout. Makntea and Morocco supplied 42,94 b tons of the Dominions requirements, against 10,415 tons in the previous vear. The report says that the larger importations of phosphates from these outside sources were successfully handled by the manufacturers. By judiciously mixing them with the main supplies of higher grade article from Nauru and Ocean Islands the standard quality of superphosphates was maintained and it is hoped this desirable iesult can be continued. For the current year it is estimated that about 207,000 tons of phosphate will be required. The report notes with approval the provision of facilities at Auckland and Lyttelton for the handling of bulk phosphate cargoes and suggests that in view of the increasing quantities of phosphates now being handled the provision of such equipment cifuld well be considered by the other port authorities concerned.