THE PHOSPHATE ISLANDS
PROVISION OF CRUSHING WORKS
THE QUESTION OF PRICE
MR; MASSEY GIVES MORE INFORMATION
The Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) mndo o statement regarding the supply of phosphato from Nauru Island and Ocean Island in tho early hours of Saturday niorniwr, when tho Estimates of the
Agricultural Department wero under consideration. Information on the subject had been asked by Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt). '
Mr. Massey reminded the House that tho Governments of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand had purchased Nauru Island and Ocean Island, and everything connected with them. The New Zealand representative (Mr. Ellis) was to meet in London tho representatives cf tho other two Governments in connection with the matter. Tho cost to tho three countries had been iS.GOO.OOO. and tho share of New Zealand was ,£600,000 or thereabouts. The original arrangement was that this country should receive 16 per cent, of the output of Nauru, but. New Zealand, had been rather lucky, and now it was to have 1G per cent, of the output of the two islands, which was .(Tuito a different thing. When representatives of the three countries met in London thev would tnko over on behalf of their respective countries, and the business would be carried on. At present New Zealand was iust feeling its way. There was not sufficient crushing machinery in tho country to-rlay to meet requirements. Anything but rough, crushing at the Islands was impracticable. Tf the phosphate was crushed fino at the islands it was apt to get wet, and when it got wet it deteriorated-. The climate was a wet one, and, moreover, the stuff had to bo lightered from tho 6hore to tho ship.
Many private firms in this country were making preparations to treat the phosphate. At Auckland crushing works were nearly ready, and works were being erected at 01 ahnhu. Another firm intended to establish works in Taranaki, and there would be small works at Dnncdin and Christcluirch. As'far as he cmild see it would be a year or two before there would lie enough plant to supply the country with what it required. At the present time tho Government wns waitine to sec what would be done by private enterprise. If the amount of plant established by private enterprise proved insufficient, other arrangements would be made.
Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South) asked what was likely to be the prmi to the farmer.
Mr. Massev replied that the question was a very difficult one to answer. It had been pointed out to him that freights were very much higher now than before the war. and that even tho labour on the islands was paid for now at a higher rate than that ruling in 1914. Ho did not want to. encourage hopes that might be disappointed, but he thought it would be possible to effect a reduction of 30s n tin on the present, prices.
Mr. Wilford said the captain of the Whangape had told him that it took ten davs on one occasion actually to reaen the land after the ship was quite close to Ocean Island. There was nothing but open roadstead there, and to land on tho island the materials requisite for Terming the phosphate would be almost an impossibility. It would .be difficult enough to get tho raw phosphate off Ocean Island.
Mr. .T. R. Hamilton (Awarun) told the Prime Minister that what the farmers were most concerned about was the distribution of the phosphate in New Zealand.
Mr. Massey said that the Agricultural Department would take charge of the distribution. There were about a dozen firms in various parts of .the country offering to'carry on, the work of distribution at a very low rate.
Mr? Hamilton said the farmers wanted to be sure that they frould not be under any obligation to some firm with a monopoly of the distribution. They were quite willing to put up their own crushing plants if there was no other way out of the difficulty. They wanted to bo quite certain that they would not have to go to some particular firm to get the manure.
111. Massey said that the solution of the matter would be the erection by tho farmers of their own crushing plant. If it came to that, the Government was prepared to back them financially.
Mr. Hamilton: That is what we want. A little later Mr. Massey said that there were in New Zealand large supplies, of sulphur available for the conversion of tho phosphate into superphosphate. He was not referring to White Island. It would not be reasonable to ask men to work there after tho disaster that occurred a year or two ago. But there were large quantities of sulphur in the Tnupo district on land' thnt the Government had acquired from tho Natives.
The Prime Minister remarked in tho course of his statement thnt he was anxious that the public should be informed regarding every detail of the Nauru transaction. He hinted that lie would be able to give fuller information later in the session.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 294, 6 September 1920, Page 5
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840THE PHOSPHATE ISLANDS Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 294, 6 September 1920, Page 5
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