H.—29.

NAURU AND OCEAN ISLANDS PHOSPHATE. Report of A. F. Ellis, C.M.G., New Zealand Commissioner, British Phosphate Commission The eleventh year of operations under Government ownership at Nauru and Ocean Islands terminated on 30th June, 1931, with the following results as regards phosphate shipments, compared with the two previous years : — 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. Tons. Tons. Tons. Nauru .. .. .. •• 342,770 296,310 240,855 Ocean .. .. .. .. 233,820 207,863 145,122 576,590 504,173 385,977 A decrease of 118,196 tons in quantity shipped will be noted. This largely diminished outputwas caused by the serious drop in demand for fertilizers in Australia and New Zealand, necessitating the curtailment of operations at both islands. Of the above tonnage, Australia took 263,047 tons, and New Zealand 122,930 tons. No shipments were made to other countries during the year. Importations of phosphate to the Dominion as compared with the two previous years are as follows : — 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. Tons. Tons. Tons. Nauru-Ocean .. .. 138,053 117,826 112,873 Outside .. .. .. .. 29,288 49,983 22,935 167,341 167,809 135,808 The outside importations in 1930-31 were made owing to existing contracts entered into when the demand was considerably in excess of the capacity of Nauru and Ocean Islands. Regarding the proportion of the Nauru-Ocean output which comes to the Dominion, the figures as compared with the two previous years are : 1928-29, 24-66 per cent. ; 1929-30, 25-21 per cent. ; 1930-31, 31-85 per cent. The year under review has seen important developments in connection with the plant at the two islands. The recently completed cantilever at Nauru for mechanical loading has been brought into regular use when suitable weather permitted ; the specified loading rate of 550 tons per hour has been exceeded, and vessels are given quick despatch. For instance, the m.v. " Glenbank," carrying 8,250 tons of phosphate, was only thirty-three hours at the island. The new steel cantilever jetty at Ocean Island is also proving suitable for conditions there. The s.s. " Triona," recently built by Messrs. Harland and Wolff, Ltd., for the Commission, is now employed in the trade, and her special appliances for laying or lifting the deep-sea moorings at the two islands will, it is considered, be very useful. These and other developments in connection with the mining and artificial drying operations will prove invaluable when the demand for phosphate again continues on the upgrade.

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