PHOSPHATES

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1928, Page 4

PHOSPHATES

SAFEGUARDING FUTURE SUPPLIES. COMMISSIONERS REPORT. WELLINGTON, ept. 4. An assurance that the interests of New Zealand farmers in the matter of

the supply of fertilisers for tho next few years are being safeguarded is contained in the report of the New Zealand Commissioner, Mr A. F. Ellis, on the British Phosphate Commission, submitted to Parliament, to-day. Mr*-Ellis says that in order to pro-

vide full supplies for the Dominion even in the event of unforeseen difficulties at Nauru and Ocean Islands, purchases of outside phosphate have been made up to 1932, and options over further quantities have been ohtained to he exercised should it. be come necessary. Ho remarks that in the phosphate market it is necessary to contract well ahead.

Shipments of Nauru and Ocean (phosphates during the lye aif which ended on June 30th last totalled 501,915 tons, against 593,310 tons in the preceding year, a decrease of 91,425 tons. Of this quantity New Zealand took 124,270 tons, and Australia 'the balance. (Bad weather-at the islands, some labour troubles, and tho epidemic of sickness at the islands were largely responsible for the falling off of tho shipments, lint it is considered that the year's exports must be considered wry satisfactory, having been exceeded only in the previous year when particularly favourable conditions were experienced throughout Makatea and Morocco supplied 42.974 tons of the Dominion’s requirements against 10.415 tons in the previous year.

Tho report says that the larger importations of phosphates from these obitsidd sooul'oei) woita successfully handled by the manufacturers by judieiosly mixing them with tile main supplies of the higher grade article from Nauru and Osean Islands. The standard quality of superphosphates was maintained, and it is hoped this desirable result can be continued. For the current year it is estimated that about- 207,000 tons of phosphate will he required. Tlic report notes with approval the provision of faeilites at Auckland and Lyttelton for the handling of hulk phosphate cargoes, and suggests that in view of the increasing quantities of phosphates now being bandied, the provision of such equipment could well be considered by the other port authorities concerned.