NAURU ISLAND PHOSPHATES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 263, 31 July 1920, Page 7

NAURU ISLAND PHOSPHATES

PLENTIFUL SUPPLIES ASSURED. -Hatters connected with Nauru Island phosphates were considered by the Dominion conference of the Farmers' Union yesterday. Dr. C. J. Eeata (Director-General of tho Department of Agriculture) stated that it was hoped to be ablo to niak» satisfactory arrangements for shipping the'phosphate to New Zealand. Farmers' co-operative companies would ph given equal opportunities with everyone else for handling phosphates. The machinery of distribution had not yet been settled', but it was intended - itliiit this work should be controlled by the Gov. eminent. The Department would recognise one firm as the distributing agents, but the price would ■ practically be controlled by the Government. The Government's intention was to see that no improper profits were made out of the solo of the phosphate, and the distributing firm-would only act as eomrnissioh agents. The firm would not be one interested in the'sale of manures to tanners. Sir James Wilson said that nearly all the phosphates delivered to New Zealand came from Mnkalcn Island. These pliosphates were controlled by a French 1.0111nanv. and it might be that this firm would enter into competition witli the Nauru Tsland product. "But," said Sir .Tames AVilson, "don't run away with tho idea that you are going to get very much cheaper phosphate. The great point is that we have assured supplies of phosphate for a couple of hundred years. It was explained that the Government intended to issue regulations which would fix the standard of fineness of tlie phosphate coming from Nauru Island. On the motion of Mr. G. Sheat (Dunsandel). seconded !>)' I[r - ' T - 8 , 01 ' d , 10 (~mll. it was decided to thank tho Government and the stuff of Ihe Department of Agriculture for having secured an adequate supply of phosphate for tho New Zealand farmers'.