PHOSPHATE OUTPUT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 130, 18 June 1937, Page 5

PHOSPHATE OUTPUT

1,000,000 Tons from Nauru and Qcean Islands farmers realise value (By 'i'eiegraph— f rese Asaociation.) AUCKLAND, June 17. The operhtiOns of the British Phosphate Commission on Nauru and Qcean Islands Have resulted in a record output of more than 1,000,000 tons of phosphate in the year ending Junq.SO, accprding to Mr A .F. Ellis, New Zoaiand representative on the Boprd of Commissioners, who retnrned to Auckland from the islands by the steamer Myrtlebank. The peak figure of 1,000,000 tons reached during the current year easily exceeds the record of 960,000 tons established last year. The commissioners and principal officerS, including Mr Clive McPherson, Australian Commissioner, were present at Nauru and Ocean Islands during Mr Ellis ' seven weeks' visit. The equipment on both islands was inspected and several conferences were held. Every opportunity for the development of the imraense fertilised industry ou the tWP smiall Pacifip islands is being taken by the commission and the repeut installation of a cantilever t9 load ships at Naurii has greatly increased the output. Evidenee of this was given on Monday of last week when the Myrtlebank arrived from Wanganui * and loaded 8450 tQns bf phosphate in one day, Although some phosphate is sent to Europe and Japan, the great bulk of the output from the islands goes to Australia and New Zealand. «The demand in the two Dorais' ions," stated Mr Ellis, "has increased very greatly and there ia every qvidenoe of ft furthqr inerease in the eoming year," The record established this year was attributed by the commissioner to the improYed pricea for primary prqducts and to the realisation by farmers of the imperatiye need for the use of fertiHsers, 1 _