In Phosphate Island of Nauru

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 442, 25 August 1928, Page 27

In Phosphate Island of Nauru

(Continued from Page 26)

in the crushing mills or on the loading wharves. The Chinese form a very efficient labour supply, are well paid and comfortably housed and altogether are very happy in their foreign service. They number about one thousand and are engaged on a three years’ period of indenture. As an indication of the conditions of service of these indentured workers, it is of interest to note that many reengage after their three-year period is over, and that in 1923 the Chinese coolies remitted back to China savings amounting to £IO,OOO. They work 49 hours a week, have excellent rations, live and work under better and happier conditions than would obtain for them in their own Flowery Land. It was only after protracted negotiations that New Zealand was able, on the score of proximity and her need for material for agricultural development, to make good her claim for a share in Nauru. To this end the late Mr. Massey’s representations on

our behalf were invaluable. We now therefore find ourselves partners with Great Britain and Australia in this remarkable island, whose deposits, it is affirmed by competent authorities, will go a long way toward meeting the increasing demands of our farmers for more than 100 years. We can therefore look upon this island trade with its many ramifications as one of our highly important industries, discovered and largely developed through the business acumen of a New Zealander, who keeps to this day as a talisman in his home the strange rock upon which he stumbled in the Sydney office and which led to such happy results. This is an instance where the fruit of travel and adventure has led to important results. In pondering upon the romance of Nauru, one must conclude that Fortune has many prizes for ambitious young New Zealanders, ' who will tempt the wide reaches of the restless ocean that sweeps our shores. floating cranes and laden barges, are busy multiplying and joining together. The captain of the steamer told me that every week he sees some new island springing up to dispute the omnipotence of the sea. Indeed, the work is proceeding faster than was anticipated, and in three or four years, when all the sections are joined together, this great dyke will cut through 18 j miles of water. Then the Zuider Zee, as such, will be no more. Twenty-five sluice gates, having an aggregate breadth of I,oooft, will carry off the waters of the Yssel Lake and keep it at the desired level. Along the top of the dyke, 100 ft in width, a road and a double track of railway will link up the province of North Holland and Friesland. Once the sea has been enclosed the work of reclaiming the land will begin. This is by far the greater part of the task, for it involves the construction of more dykes—that protecting the two southern polders will

be nearly 22 miles in length—innumerable canals, quays and bridges, besides the erection of pumping and dirainage machinery. Even when the water has been pumped off the land six or seven years must elapse before the soil reaches its full cultivation value. In designing the masonry work required for the bringing into being of this new country account has to be taken for the shinkage of the soil. This is estimated at Ift, but in the course of years it may increase in certain places to more than 3ft. The normal water level in these new polders will be about 22ft below that of the adjoining Yssel Lake. Holland expects to accomplish the whole of this work at a total cost of £45,333,333. As against this, the capital value of the newly-acquired land, when it will have reached its full cultivation value, is put at £42,500,000 and the capitalised worth of the Yssel Lake, as a fresh-water reservoir, at £16,333,333. WATER SUPPLY ENSURED At present, in districts surrounding the Zuider Zee, there is, in periods of drought, a scarcity of fresh water. The Yssel Lake will provide a sufficiency of good drinking water for cattle at all times-—a matter of great importance to an agricultural country like Holland. What a tremendous thing this scheme is for the future of the Netherlands will be better realised when it is recalled that the total area of the country is now about 9,240,000 acres. The effect of the Zuider Zee reclamations will be to increase that area by 7 per cent.