NAURU PHOSPHATES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14702, 1 June 1920, Page 2

NAURU PHOSPHATES.

The Prime Minister was asked at the j conference of producers for any information he could give about the Nauru purchase, and especially for information as to when phosphates from the island, would lie available to New Zealand farmers. -i .i 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. ,Ho reminded the conference that besides Nauru, the three countries concerned 1 — Britain, Australia, and New Zealandwere taking over Ocean Island, with the whole of the business and interests of the British Phosphates Company m these two islands. According to the schedule, the company had six ships under charter,' but lie was not able to say definitely whether the charters of these ships would be taken over with the other business. In any case, judging by present appearances, the business would come under the control of the three Governments about the date he had mentioned. Bach Government concerned would appoint a ; commissioner. He had his 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, lie had another gentleman ready to take his place when the time came. It would be necessary for the three commissioners to visit the islands, but he did not expect they would jtake 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 tlieir time to our -interest. ' This, of course, remained to bo seen. It would be the duty of the Government to seo that the phosphates were supplied to. tlie producers at the lowest possible rates, and though the Government had not direct control of the plants now in ■ existence or being erected for dealing wtih the rock, it would still be the duty of the Government to continue the control in order to enrfure that everything possible was done to encourage production.