NAURU PHOSPHATES.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 127, 1 June 1920, Page 3

NAURU PHOSPHATES.

PURCHASE ALMOST COMPLETE

The Prime Minister was asked at .tho conference of producers in Wellington for any information he .could give about the Nauru purchase, and especially for information as to when phosphates frooa the island would be available to New Zealand farmers.

Mr Massey, in reply, said that the Nauru negotiations had advanced a stage inasmuch as only a day or two ago he had been notified that it would be necessary for the Government to find New Zealand's share of the purchase money on or about July 1. He reminded the conference that besides Nauru, the three countries concerned—Britain, Australia, and New Zealand—were taking over Ocean Island, with the whole of the business and interests of the British Phosphates Company in these two islands. ".According to the schedule, the company had six ships under charter, but he was not able to say definitely whether the charters of these :;hips would be taken over with tho other business. In any case, judging by present appearances, tho 'business would come under tho control of the three Governments about the date he had mentioned. Each Government concerned would appoint a "commission|e|r. He had pus first commissioner ready, and although this gentleman would only look after the initial work and New Zealand's interests for about two. or three months, he had another gentleman ready* to take his place when the time' came. It would be necessary for the three commissioners to visit tho islands, but he did not expect they would take up their residence at either of the islands. They would probably operate from Auckland or Sydney. Neither did he .think it would be necessary for them to give the whole of their time to oar interests. This/ of course, remained to bo seen. It would be the duty of tlie Government to see that the phospliates were supplied to the producers at the lowest possible rates, - and though the Government had not direct control of the plants now in ejistence or being erected for dealing with the rock, it would still be the duty of the Government to continue the control in order to ensure that everything possible was done to encourage pi-oduction.