PHOSPHATES.

Grey River Argus, 8 July 1926, Page 7

PHOSPHATES.

FROM NAURU AND OCEaN ISLAND. WELLINGTON, July 7. The Minister of Agriculture, in a statement in the House to-day, said that under the Nauru agreement, New Zealand contiibuted 16 per cent of lhe capital for acquiring the phosphate rights in Nauru and Ocean Island; Great Britain and Australia respectively, contributed 42 per cent each. The agreement provided that the three countries would be entitled to take phosphate rock from the islands in similar proportions annually. These quantities were to bo readjusted at the end of five-yearly intervals on the basis of the actual requirements of each ( of the throe countries. During the first five years, Great Britain took only a very small quantity of phosphate, and during the fifth year, Australia took approximately 72 per cent of the total output, while New Zealand took approximately 21 per cent. The question of a re-allocation of proportions for each country has been taken up with Great Britain and Australia but after some communications had been passed, it was deferred at the request of Great Britain. A despatch from the Secretary of State for Dominion affairs, in which this desire was expressed, stated that under the present arrangement, the whole of the United Kingdom allotment not required by the United Kingdom, is at the disposal of Australia and New Zealand. In the event of British consumers desiring to obtain large supplies of phosphate from Nauru and Ocean Island, care would be taken to give reasonable notice of such intention.