NAURU PHOSPHATE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1929, Page 6

NAURU PHOSPHATE

AMFm SUPPLIES

FOR A HUNDRED YEARS

The only topic raised when the Nauru and Ocean Islands Estimates were under discussion in the Hpuse of- Re* presentatives last night., was that of supplies of phospnatic rock to New Zealand from Nauru under the agreement entered into in 1919.

Mr. A. Hamilton (Eeform, Wallace) said it had been suggested New, Zealand was. paying too ,much in interest for her participation in the supply of phosphatic rock. ' . - „ ' . '

Mr. G.R.Sykes (Eeform, Mastertou) asked' if our operations were a payable proposition, and whether there was a danger of the supplies "petering out." Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Ind. Reform, Gisborne) asked the Minister if. he was satisfied there was an ample supply for future requirements. If not, other sources of supply should be' secured.

Tho Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. G. W. ForbeS) said the account was kept by the Nauru Phosphate .Com? mission. The amount of capital invested was £3,411,000--£ 1,432,000 each by the United Kingdom and the Australian Commonwealth, and £547,----000 by New Zealand. Interest was at 6 per cent., and repayment was to b° made in fifty years. It was estimated there were ample phosphates, at Nauru Island-to last for a hundred years. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central): "What-is that based on?"

The Minister: "On the visible gupply." He said the price would be kept a littlo above cost because interest and sinking fund charges had to be met.

Mr. Parry referred to the probability of increasing demand for tho rock. Mr. Forbes said it was estimated there were 100 million ■ tons of rock, available—a million tons a year for the noxt hundred yoars. Last year about 500;000 tons were taken out. Mr. Parry stressed tho need for keeping the price as low as possible. If the Minister had any doubt a? to the price, ho would have the country behind him if he setup a Commission to go into the question, OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPLY. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Reform, G-is-borne) said supplies of phosphate could bo obtained from an island tho locality of which ,ho -was not at liberty to mention. Tho Government should make inquiries. Mr. F. Langstono (Labour, WaimarinoX: "Is tho islaud on the map?" Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central): "Did you invent tho island?" Mr. W. L. Martin (Labour, Eaglan) said the producers Wore not satisfied that the supplies of phosphate were as plentiful as they should be. The Min-' ister should inquire whether supplies could bo obtained from other islands in the Pacific. Mr. %V. J. Poison (Independent, Stratford) said the whole future of tho Dominion depended on adequate- supplies of fertiUser being made available from Nauru. Figures showed that important results had already accrued from the us© of fertiliser. The amount of top-dressing had increased from „ 3,500,000 to £9,780,000 last year. Britain had not been taking her allotted share of 42 per centl from Nauru, and a little more was going to Australia and New Zealand, but the Dominion was not yet receiving the amount she should get. It was important that New Zealand should get more if the. Old Country did not want to take its quota of 42 per cent., and the cost should be reduced. The Minister said that negotiations had not yet reached a position in which an assurance could be given that further supplies wou.ia be made available. Britain waß not taking her share because she had cheaper supplies. available from a nearer source than Nauru —Morocco* • , Mr. Poison: "That is, unmanufac tiired." The Minister agreed. Some supplies of Moroccan phosphate had come to New Zealand. The matter had" not been lost sight of, because everyone recognised how important it was to Now Zealand that this country should have supplies of Nauru phosphate.