Fertiliser Works Near To Closing Down

Chronicle (Levin), 13 July 1948, Page 3

Fertiliser Works Near To Closing Down

Press Association )

(Per

■ AUCKLAND, July 12. The arrival tomorrow from Makatea of the JBritish steamer Langleegale with 9200 toxis of phosphate, is expeeted to be just in time to avert the threatened elosing of tke Auckland fertiliser works due to . a shortage of raw inaterial. The supply of phosphatic rock to New Zealand has been substantially reduced since a strike axxxopg Gilbertese labourers employed on Ocean Island developed on May'l and although arrangements have now been made for fresh labour following the repatriation of the ihen concerned, the* cuniulative lowest ebb beeause of laclc Of phoseffect is expected to be a loss of some tlxousanda of tons of fertiliser to New Zealand. Beeause the Auckland phospliato works have been running at a minimum rate without actually ceasing production and beeause the Langleegale 's cargo is so urgently needed, speciai arrangenreuts have been made for the berthing and disclxarge of the ship. In addition the Waterfront Commission has granted the ship the highest priority given any ship since the Mountpark preferenee j>olicy was introduced on June 25, and gangs will be supplied to all hatches. Sir Albert Ellis, New Zealand representative on the British Phosphate Commission, said tonight that work was normal at Makatea and Nauru and that a shipment of phosphate from Nauru was expected on July 22 or 2'it. At Ocean Island, liowever, where the Gilbertese who made up the bulk of the labour force, had dpmanded highcr native arrangements for labour were being made. He expected the Auckland fertiliser works would "scrape through.t" > ' ' Tlxrce Auckland worlcs are in a desperate plight for raw material," said the principal of one of them. "\Ye have all been running at the very wages or repatriation, production had been greatly reduced. * It had been decided to repatriate the men and alterphatic rock." Keserve stocks from which more or less^the normal supply oi fertiliser had been xnaintained to farmers, were now almost exliausted, he coutinued. In addition the eompanies' reserves of raw material which were sometimes as high as 20,000 tons, had declined rapidly since Easter. Tlius, although farmers had not yet 1'elt the full impact of the shortagos, ihe coinpanies would for some time be able to supplty fertiliser onlv as fast as tiiey could malce it and tliis rate would depend upon the size and regularity of future shipments of rock. "I believe that the thrce Auckland works are in this position," he added. "Others in different parts of New Zealand are reported to be better off beeause they have not had waterfront difliculties to add to their problems. "The cargo due on Tuesday will be split between the three Auckland works. Our sliare will be enougli to enable full production to be resumed oniy for about two weeks."