NAURU PHOSPHATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10546, 24 March 1920, Page 3

NAURU PHOSPHATE

To the Editor "N.Z. Times." Sir, —I notice from London, cables that the present proprietors ar© to. bethought out; at about ,£5,500,0(X) for their' Tights, which" rather confirms what was suggested in an earlier letter, kindly inserted oil'January "24tli last, that we could not expect- much, if any, drop in cost of superphosphate from Nauru. New Zealand's share of the purchase money will apparently bo about .£560,000, which probably will include shore plant, bjit not any steamers. To ensure.regular supplies, suitable vessels wjll also havt to bo provided to run solely in the trade to New Zealand, and further large expenditure in treatment works here are also imperative, totalling altogether verj large figures. The suggestion of another correspondent in. a subsequent issue of your paper that the Government might consider tt-s acquisition of those deposits of phosphatic guano nearer home was a wise sad timely one. They are now in active trade with New Zealand, delivered regularly, in their own steamers, have the further advantage of being all ready for use upon arrival without any further treatment, and are very suitable to Ivew Zealand soil, while from tthat one hears, the guano, if owned and run by ihe Government, would cost a very moderate price per ton delivered to the farmers. The special suitability of guano for New Zealand soils, notably for pumice and papa country, are very strong arguments in support of our securing these or anv, similarly close at hand deposits iif they can be trot at a reasonable figure —particularly when both Japan and Australia are now becoming very keen buyers,

FABMEE. „