H.—29.

NAURU AND OCEAN ISLANDS PHOSPHATE. REPORT OF SIR ALBERT ELLIS, Kt., C.M.G., NEW ZEALAND COMMISSIONER, BRITISH PHOSPHATE COMMISSION. Details of operations at Nauru and Ocean Islands for the nineteenth year under Government ownership are supplied herewith. Shipments compare with the two previous years as follows :■ — 1936-37. 1937-38. 1938-39. Tons. Tons. Tons Nauru .. .. .. .. 577,600 836,250 924,250 Ocean Island .. .. .. 429,000 329,850 300,267 Total .. .. .. 1,006,600 1,166,100 1,224,517 The totals for the two former years established successive records considerably above any previous year, and it is confidently expected that another record will be set up by the current year's work. Actually 1,077,300 tons had been shipped up to 6th June. The distribution of shipments for the three years is as follows : — 1936-37. 1937-38. 1938-39. Tons. Tons. Tons United Kingdom .. .. .. 17,225 15,650 61,500 Australia .. .. .. 683,475 771,150 818,020 New Zealand .. .. .. 243,400 290,300 293,047 Other countries .. .. .. 62,500 89,000 51,590 1,006,600 1,166,100 1,224,517 The proportion of output coming to New Zealand is 23-93 per cent, for the current year, as compared with 24-18 per cent, in 1936-37 and 24-9 per cent, in 1937-38. The Dominion's requirements throughout the year have been fully met, and the somewhat reduced shipments are owing to a falling off in demand through various causes, the principal one being seasonal conditions. It is anticipated that consumption will again be on the upgrade next season. During the year under review very favourable weather for operations was experienced at the Islands, though an unusually prolonged drought caused exhaustion of fresh water supplies, necessitating a heavy call on the condensing-plants. A number of shipments of water from down south materially helped to tide over the emergency. There have recently been useful falls of rain, and the position as to fresh water has eased up. Throughout the year the health of the Island staffs and labourers has been good, and there have been few labour troubles. The mining, transport, artificial-drying plants, &c., have rendered excellent service at both Islands, and the shipping arrangements have met all requirements. Loading an 8,000 ton vessel at Nauru cantilever in the daylight hours of one day is now quite a common occurrence. In view of the expanding demand for phosphate, further plant is being installed. The Commission's m.v. " Triaster " and s.s. " Triona " continue to make fast trips between Australia and New Zealand and the Islands, the former having now delivered a total of forty-seven cargoes and the latter eighty-one in the two countries, besides doing any necessary mooring and labour-recruiting work at the Islands. The m.v. " Trienza " and " Triadic," sister ships owned by the Commission with a carrying-capacity of 9,300 tons, entered the trade in April and July, 1938, and, making fast trips, have already delivered fifteen and eleven cargoes respectively.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,000 copies), £85.

Price Is. 6d.]

By Authority; E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 939.

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