PHOSPHATE SUPPLY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 October 1942, Page 4

PHOSPHATE SUPPLY

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. “Everything will be done to explore the possibilities and expedite the utilisation of what appears to be a most valuable phosphate supply, and in view of the difficulties now being experieiiced in adequate importations it is hoped ' the filial results will at least approximate to the optimistic reports now current,” said the Minister for Agriculture (Mr Barclay), referring to the deposit of rock phosphate at Clarendon Otago. Reviewing the position ho said that recent investigations carried out by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research indicated that apparently there existed at Clarendon, in dose proximity to limited deposits of high-grade phosphate which had been already worked and proved uneconomic, considerable quantities of low grade phosphate' material. Immediately upon receipt of this information steps were taken to survey the possibility of economically working these newly discovered deposits and utilising the product as a fertilising agent. A preliminary survey revealed the probability of extensive areas of easily worked material and arrangements had now been made to bore the area with a view to ascertaining the exact quantity of phosphate-bearing rock available. If the deposit proved continuous and reasonably uniform the economic significance of the discovery was of major importance.