NAURU’S GREAT RECOVERY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22761, 6 October 1948, Page 6

NAURU’S GREAT RECOVERY

“Nauru is a unique instance of an industry destroyed by war and rebuilt with the promise of a greater degree of efficiency than before,’’ said Sir Albert Ellis, New Zealand representative on the British Phosphate Commission, on his return to Auckland from Nauru on Friday. Sir Albert visited Nauru, Ocean Island and Rambi, in the Fiji group, the new home of the Ocean Islanders.

"Operations at Nauru are very satisfactory,” said Sir Albert. “Large quantities of phosphate are being shipped, at times at a rate equivalent to 700,000 tons a year. One arm of the cantilever was put into service in July and is capable of loading 750 tons an hour into a ship. Repairs to the second arm should be completed in December.

“To keep the contilever supplied with phosphate field gangs are working three shifts and much repair and development work is in hand. At Ocean Island major labour difficulties have been experienced since May, but the Gilbertese natives who went on strike have been repatriated. “A fresh supply of labour is now due at the island and in the meantime a reduced force of about 300 Ellice Islanders is doing excellent work. During the present month the island should be back to its former shipping capacity." Sir Albert said he SDent nearly a week at Rambi Island, how the home of Ocean Islanders who had been displaced by phosphate workings. “We had an enthusiastic reception such as could only be given by a native people well pleased with their lot," he said. “Probably no more suitable island in the Pacific could be found for the Ocean Islanders. It i? very fertile and 12 times the size of their former home.”