MORE PHOSPHATES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 44, 30 August 1928, Page 21

MORE PHOSPHATES

SURVEY OF PACIFIC A question relating to phosjjhate supplies was brought up by Mr. J. G. Eliott (Oroua) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Eliott asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, seeing the necessity of maintaining to the Dominion a regular and an adequate supply of high-grade phosphates, he would cause a general survey to be made of plios-phato-bearing islands in the Pacific Ocean, with a View of purchasing such deposits absolutely for our <nyn ,uso. The Hon. O. J. Hawlcen (Minister of Agriculture) replied: "The phosphate Commissioners have , reliable informa: tion regarding known phosphate deposits in the Pacific and arc watching the position closely in^ reference to any reported discoveries.. -As a result of a | great ideal. of prospecting experience ia the: Pacific."the Commissioners have found"-that'''it' is' not,-!.difficult to locate phosphate-deposits if the right formation is examined, but locating such deposits as those on Nauru and Ocean Islands is quite a different matter. The Government are giving earnest attention to the matter of the maintenance of regular and ample supplies of phosphate to meet New Zealand'_ requirements, and lias already initiated action on the lines of endeavouring to secure further permanent supplies. In the circumstances,- it is. riot considered necessary to undertake, at the present time, any general survey of the islands of the Pacific."