PHOSPHATES SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 134, 2 March 1920, Page 7

PHOSPHATES SUPPLY

NAURU ISLAND AGREEMENT

COMPLETED

THE LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS

The arrangements for the control of Aaurn lainiid in tho intoreats of Britam. Australia, and New Zealand are now comnleto. Tho Prime Minister informed a Dominion reporter yesterday that ho had recoived a communication from the Secretarv of State for the Colonies, rhroiurh tho Governor-General, informing mm that nn agreement had been arrived nt betwoim tho Imperial authorities, actins for the Governments of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, on the one hand and the directors of the Pacifio I hosphnte Company on.the'other hand, lite agreement was now being drafted, and would be submitted to the Governments in due course. It was expected that the nsreement would take effect as from Julv 1 next, when the business of the company would be taken over as a going concern.

•Mr. Massey added that a sufficient supply of superphosphate was urgently required in Now Zealand at present, and the demand was likely to increase rather than diminish in tho future. Arrangements for the treatment of the phosDhat? rock within the Dominion had made good progress, and ho did not think that much time need elapse before largo supplies of the fertiliser became available. A new establishment was being erected on the railway line near Onehunga by a co-operative farmers' company, and if. was anticipated that this factory, when in working order, would be able to handle. 100,000 tons, of phosphate per annum. Other establishments probably would be able to dp.il with GO.OOO or 70.000 tons of the rock per annum. He thought that after this season there should not bo much difficulty about supplies of superphosphate. A suggestion had been made that the rook should bo converted into superphosphate before being exported from Nauru Island. He had been informed that this arrangement was not desirable, owing to the fact that the treatment increased tho weitrht of the rock. A ton of phosphate, with sulphuric acid and othe.r added materials would make a ton and a half of superphosphate. Mr. Massey added an assurance that there would do no avoidable delav. as far as the Government was concerned, in meeting the needs of-the farmers. ,