H.—29,

" In spite of the difficulty of obtaining complete root kills of the ragwort, the use of sodium chlorate is undoubtedly enabling many farmers to replace almost pure stands of ragwort by productive pasture swards. Often large numbers of small ragwort-plants come up from live roots. In sheep pastures these remain small and harmless. Dairy-farmers have, by treatment of regrowth, changed badly infested areas into comparatively ragwort-free pastures. On the other hand, much of what has been attributed to re-seeding is undoubtedly the result of incomplete root kills." Samples received fob Analysis during the Year. Wellington Laboratory— Dips . . . . . . 19 Field crops . . . . . . 13 Limestones . . . . . . 293 Animal organs for trace elements . . 103 Soils . . . . . . 300 Pig-carcass specimens .. .. 11 Thyroids . . . . . . 3 Butters . . . . . . 32 Miscellaneous . . . . 60 Pastures for trace elements .. 255 2,233 Pastures for Fields Division . . 253 Ruakura Laboratory — Sugar Beets . . . . . . 392 Soil samples for chlorate deter - Fruit-tree leaves .. .. .. 160 minations .. • .. 49 Fertilizers . . . . 32 Soil samples for moisture deterStock foods . . . . 38 minations .. .. 47 Limonites . . . . 30 Pasture samples for dry matter Toxicological specimens . . . . 185 determinations .. .. 20 Waters .. . . . . 41 116 Stock Remedies .. .. ..13 Total .. .. .. 2,349 NAURU AND OCEAN ISLANDS PHOSPHATE. Report of A. F. Ellis, C.M.G., New Zealand Commissioner, British Phosphate Commission. Details of operations at Nauru and Ocean Islands for the eighteenth year under Government ownership are supplied herewith. The year terminated on 30th June last, and the shipments as compared with the two previous years are as follows :— 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Tons. Tons. Tons. Nauru .. .. .. ..506,600 577,600 836,250 Ocean Island .. .. .. 319,779 429,000 329,850 Total .. .. .. 826,379 1,006,600 1,166,100 It will be noted that the two previous years' figures which established records considerably above any former years have again been exceeded, the total of 1,166,100 tons being up by 159,500 tons. A still further increase is aimed at for the present year, as the demand for phosphatic fertilizers in New Zealand and Australia continues to expand rapidly. This is instanced by the following figures giving the distribution of shipments for the three years : — 1935-36. 1936-37. 1937-38. Tons. Tons. Tons. United Kingdom. .. .. .. 6,000 17,225 15,650 Australia .. .. .. .. 561,200 683,475 771,150 New Zealand .. .. . 192,879 243,400 290,300 Other countries .. .. .. 66,300 62,500 89,000 826,379 1,006,600 1,166,100 The proportion of output which came to New Zealand was 24-9 per cent., as compared with 23-34 per cent, for 1935-36 and 24-18 per cent, for 1936-37. Importations to New Zealand compared with the two previous years are : 1935-36, 199,237 tons ; 1936-37, 246,778 tons ; 1937-38, 293,830 tons. During the year under review very favourable weather conditions have again been experienced ; the health of the Island staffs and labourers has been good, and there have been few labour troubles. The mining and artificial drying-plant and the shipping arrangements at both Islands have given excellent service under heavy pressure. In view of the expanding demand it has been decided to materially increase the plant facilities during the next few years. The Commission's m.v. " Triaster" and s.s. " Triona " continue to make fast trips between Australia and New Zealand and the Islands, the former having now delivered a total of thirty-seven cargoes and the latter seventy-one in the two countries, besides doing any necessary mooring and labour recruiting work at the Islands. The new m.v. " Trienza," owned by the Commission, with a phosphate-carrying capacity of 9,300 tons, entered the trade early in April, and making fast trips has already delivered three cargoes in Australia. Her next trip will be to Auckland in July. A fourth vessel, the " Triadic," a sister ship of " Trienza," is due at the Islands early in July on her maiden voyage.

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By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93B.

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