NAURU ISLAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16681, 2 March 1920, Page 6

NAURU ISLAND.

PHOSPHATES AVAILABLE SOON. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON,''March i. Arrangements for the control of Nauru Island in the interest of Britain, Australia and New Zealand are now complete. The Prime Minister informed a Dominion reporter to-day that he had received a commuhication from the Secretary for State for the Colonies, through the Governor-General, informing him that an agreement had been arrived at between the Imperial authorities, acting for the Government of Britain, Australia and New Zealand on the one hand, and the directors of the Pacific Phosphate Company on the other. The agreement .was now being drafted and would be submitted to the Governments in due course. It waj expected the agreement would take effect as from July i next, when the business of the company would'lie taken over as a going concern. "■ Mr. Massey added that superphosphates were urgently required in New Zealand at present, and the demand was likely to increase rather than diminish in the future. Arrangements for the treatment of phosphate rock within the Dominion had made good progress, and he did not think much time need elapse before largjf., supplies of fertiliser became available. A new establishment was being erected on the railway line near Onehunga, by a Co-operative Farmers’ Company, and it was anticipated this factory, when in working order, would be able -to handle 10,000 tons of phosphate per annum. Other establishments probably would be able to deal with 60,00 b or 70,000 tons of the rock per annum. He thought that after this season there should not be much difficulty about supplies of phosphate. A suggestion had been made that the rock should be converted into superphosphate before being exported from Nauru. He had been informed that this was not desirable, owing to the fact that treatment increased the weight of the rock. A ton of phosphate with sulphuric acid and other added materials would make a ton and a half of superphosphate. Mr. Massey added an assurance that there would be no avoidable delay as far as the Government was concerned Ja meetitig the needs qf fcg.faiQisiff.