SUPPLIES OF PHOSPHATE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20584, 6 December 1928, Page 10

SUPPLIES OF PHOSPHATE.

NAURU AND OCEAN ISLANDS, CONSTANTLY INCREASING DEMAND. (SPECIAL TO AUCKLAND, December 5. , The operations of the British Phosphate Commission during the past year have been very successful, and business has increased steadily, according to Mr Albert F.' Ellis, commissioner for New Zealand on the Board-of Commissioners, who returned by the Maunganui from a periodical business trip to Australia. Mr EUis conferred witlr the Australian commissioner, Mr Clive M'Pherson, at Melbourne. Mr Ellis said that the construction and placing of a loading cantilever at Nauru Island and the construction of a steel wharf at Ocean Island would be completed in the New Year 1 , and as a result the loading of phosphate on to. the ships would be greatly facilitated. . ! "We are concluding a very satisfactory year" Mr Ellis stated.'\"lncreased quantities of phosphate are coming to New Zealand and Australia/and the demand row on increasing. Manufacturers are holding larger stocks of iraw phosphate than ever before. The quantity brought to the Dominion this year'is in the neighbourhood of 200,000 tons, and nest year I expect the tonnage will be increased to, at least 230.Q00." . . < Discussing future supplies, Mr Ellis said that even if- the demand increased much more r - than they-anticipated the supply of phosphate on the two islands would last at least 100 years. 1 Wet weather, which, was to be expected at this time of the year,- had hindered work on. the islands lately, but this.was not Unusual, and they were coping- with the demand. When asked" the cost of the new loading facilities at the< islands, Mr Ellis declined to quote figures, but said that the'wOrk would run into a considerable suml The cost.had all been provided for.