PHOSPHATES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 August 1924, Page 5

PHOSPHATES.

NAURU OUTPUT. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.I WELLINGTON, Aug; 6. A statement regarding Nauru and Ocean Island* phosphates was made by the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) in the House to-day. He said that during the past twelve months ending June 30 the output of phosphate rock from the. two islands increased greatly, last year’s output being approximately 139,000 tons in excess of that of the preceding year. Of this New Zealand took 61,575 (or 13.63 per cent.) tons, against 51,550 tons (or 16.43 per cent) in the previous year. Thus, in spite of the greater quantity taken by the Dominion, our quota was, in consequence of the increased aggregate output, below the 16 per cent, to which we were entitled under the Nauru agreement. As to the future, the Minister said the Nauru agreement provided that at the end of five years, i.e., 1924, the allocations of the quantity of phosphate rock to which each partner country was entitled were to be revised and altered if necessary. The New Zealand proportion was 16 per cent., and the outlook for the current year was that we would take more than that quantity. “There is no likelihood of our proportion being reduced below 16 per cent.,’’ added the Minister, “but whether it can be increased above that figure depends on the actual requirements of Groat Britain and Australia respectively.”