GENEVA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1926, Page 2

GENEVA CONFERENCE

[.Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] NAURU PHOSPHATES REPORT TO LEAGUE. GENEVA, June 0. A supplementary memorandum to the Nauru Report was before the, A Initiates Commission, which expressed satisfaction. Sir J. Cook (Australia) replying to all inquiry as to what had been done to protect the rights of the natives, announced.—“Tlio present agreement for the payment of a lump sum of twenty pounds per acre and a royalty of three-pence per ton on the phosphate, Expires in June, 192.. After that time t lid land owners propose that, for the phosphate Utld, there shall be lin annual rental of tln'ed pounds per acre, with a- minimum of one pound, trees to be paid for, in addition to a royalty of one shilling per ton on the phosphate raised (not shipped as at present). The British Phosphate Commission is to have the option of terminating the lease after a period of not loss than six years on one year’s notice. . Under tile nen proposals, the Administrator will he asked to appoint a qualified person to see that the rights of' the owners arc conserved ,to check the amount o phosphate raised, and to see that the British Commission is not allowed to skim the good parts and leave thosenot so good, and to ensure that ihe Commission shall work the phosphate in a systematic manner.'’ GENEVA, Juno 8. The session of the Committee on the composition of the League Council that was fixed for June 28th, has been adjourned, and an extraordinary session of the Council will he convened before tlio meeting of the Assembly in September. This indicates that no agreement has been reached with Spain and Brazil as regards tlio future composition of the Council.