NAURU PHOSPHATES

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1927, 28 October 1926, Page 5

NAURU PHOSPHATES

N.Z/S BIG DEMAND. -* ( LARGER SUPPLY WANTED. (By Telegraph. Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. In view of the importance to the Dominion of a continuers and 1 , adequate supply of phosphates, and the fact that New Zealand is already absorbing more than her allotted share of the output of iNlauiru, the Governvvent was recently urged by the. executiue of the Farmers’ Union to take an early opportunity of igetjtling an alteration in the Nauru agr|eiement in order to secure to Nielw Zealand a larger share of that output..

The Minister of Agriculture, (the Hon O. J. :Hawk)ein) has now replied that the question of ithe reallocation of thli proportions for each country had been taken up with Britain and Australia, hut, after some communications bad passed, It was deferred at the request of 'Britain. A despatch from ithe Secretary of State for Dominion Affaiirs, ia which this desire was 'expressed, stated that, under the present arrangements, Ithe whole of the United Kingdom allotment which is not required is at thlei disposal of; Australia and New Zealand, and, in (he event of British contemners rte'Sir-. ing to .■obtain large supplies front Nauru ''Odetan Island, care would, be taken ‘to give reasonable notme’. In the circumstances, continued the Minister, the 'request that the matter b- deflarrldldi was agreed to by 'New Zealand and 1 , having regard to the present position regarding phosphate supplies available for British manufacturers, it was not anticipated that Britain would require any quantity from Nauru and Ocean Island for some dears to comic. Ait the same time the matter had been kept in mind, and it had been arranged tbalt a full disquission ef it with Britain and Australia would! take place at the Imperial Conference.