PHOSPHATE SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 4

PHOSPHATE SUPPLIES

CLARENDON DEPOSITS GOOD QUANTITIES EXPECTED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday Prospects of securing considerable quantities of both high and low grade phosphate from the Clarendon deposits appear to be particularly bright, said the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, to-night, in announcing that explorative work carried out there by the Government and the British Phosphate Commissioners during the past four months had shown the practicability of exploiting the deposits. The Minister snid that the British Phosphate Commission, which was responsible for the quarrying of higt grade rock at Clarendon was already making deliveries to South Islam manufacturers. The commissioners anticipated that the total deliveries foi the ensuing 12 months would be approximately 12,(XX) tons. In regard to low-grade deposits ex tensive borings had been carried oil by the Mines Department, which con clusively showed that large quantitie: of fertilising material were available The Government intended to exploi these low-grade deposits to the fulles extent and arrangements were mad( with the object of quarrying 20,00* tons of low-grade phosphate within tin next 12 months. The possibilities of pro cessing a fertiliser with a highe phosphatic content from low-grade rocl were being investigated.

DISABLED SOLDIERS HIGHER PENSION PROPOSAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Thursday hi consequence of the statement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, that the matter of increasing the disability pension will be considered at the next Parliamentary session, the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Returned Services Association has spent considerable time reviewing the question, says a report issued by the association. Discussions have been held with the War Amputees' Association and with Second N.Z.E.F. members coopted on the Wellington R.S.A. committee. "It is expected the matter will be considered by all local associations, and discussed at the council meeting next May," adds the report. It recalls that the commission set up by the Government in 1923 agreed that the disability pension should be increased, but granted an increase by way ol an economic pension which, in effect, meant that the disabled soldier who was struggling along in employment obtained no benefit." MAORI REMANDED ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE Charged with attempting to murder Ngaro Moses Davis at Punaruku on March 14. a Maori farmer, Koni Thompson, aged -13, appeared before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., yesterday. Senior-Detective Walsh, who said it was a case from Whangarci; asked for a remand. Accused was remanded to appear in Auckland on April 1. CINEMA OPERATORS (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Thursday Regulations enabling the registration of male and female cinematograph operators were gazetted to-night. They are the Cinematograph Operators Emergency Regulations, 19*13, and make provision for shortening but intensifying the training period required for the instruction of such operators.