PHOSPHATE SUPPLY.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1925, Page 4

PHOSPHATE SUPPLY.

OCEAN AND NAURU ISLANDS. AUCKLAND, November 10. A through passenger lrum Vancouver to Sydney by the Niagara is Mill. H. i'ope, Commissioner for Australia |ur l.:e British Phosphate Commis-

Discussing the .subject of phosphates from Nauru and Ocean Islands, Mr Pope said that for tl-gj year ended June JO. the amount which had been exported from the two islands constituted a record of 171,000 tons. The previous year was a record I ill

then, some 152,UJU tons having been exported I rum the islands. Last year's distribution was made as follows: - To New Zealand, !/J, 00(1 tons; Australia, JJ7,000; and to other countries. Jo,1)00 tolls. During the first five years of operations a total of 1,9(32,000 tons of phosphates had been sent away from the islands. During the first year the amount was fidLOnO tons; second, Jo 1,000 tuns: third, JIJ.GUO tons; fourth. -152.01 »J tons: ami tilth. -111.000 tons. The drop in the third year's figure'' "as attributable to trade depression generally. The 1.002.000 tons were exported to the following countries: l nited Kingdom, J 2.000 ; New Zealand, 207,01111; and Australia, 1 .fibs,Olid ; whilst other countries took dtp),Odd tons.

-Air Pope went on to say that ho expected that during the present your Australia would take at least -ItiO.OIl!) tons of phosphates from Ocean ami Nauru Islands, as it was estimated she would require SOI),000 tons of superphosphate for top-dressing. To give some idea of the lonnii'kahle increase in phosphate importation into Australia. .Mr Pope said that when he went to the islands twenty-two years ago the Commoinveallh was only importing 25,(Kit; tons per vonr.

So far as Air Pope could see, the phosphate trade to both New Zealand and Australia would increase. Both were essentially agricultural countries, and were developing along parallel lines. In Ocean and Nauru Islands tiiese two countries had a wealth of phosphates, which he calculated would last tor 201) years or over.

Remarking that Australia’s quota was a huge one, (lie reporter was informed b.v .Mr Pope that Alislralian pustoralists and graziers were now taking lip top-dressing with superphosphate with Hilly wonderful results. Whereas formerly a “ scraggy’’ heust

was carried to an acre, now two’and a half to three head of lat cattle were being accommodated. All this increase was due to top-dressing.