NAURU PHOSPHATES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17080, 8 July 1926, Page 7

NAURU PHOSPHATES.

NEW ZEALAND’S ALLOCATION. POSSIBILITY OF INCREASE. (Parliair.cnteey Reporter.) ' WELLINGTON, this day. A change in the method of charging for superphosphates in the South Island was brought under the notice of the Minister of Agriculture, who was asked hv the member for Waitaki if the innovation had his consent. The Minister of Agriculture rcp.ied: “The Department understands that as from July 1 suerphosphate- is being sold in. the South Island at f.o.b. rates, instead of at a flat delivered rate as hitherto. The Department was not consulted as to the proposed change, and its consent is not necessary to an arrangement between the 1 seller and buver.”

The Minister, answering another member, stated that New Zealand contributed 16 per cent, of thei capital to develop the Nauru phosnhatn supply, and was taking 21 per cent, of the output. The question of a re-allocation of the proportions for each country had been taken up with Great Britain and Australia, hut after some communications had passed it was deferred at the request of Great Britain. A despatch from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, in which this desire was expressed, stated that under the present arrangement the whole of the United Kingdom allotment not- required hv the United Kingdom was at the disposal of New Zealand, and in the event of British consumers desirino to obtain large- supplies of phosphate from Nauru and'Ocean Islands, carp would he taken to give reasonable notice of such intention.