H.—29.

NAURU AND OCEAN ISLANDS PHOSPHATE. Report of A. F. Ellis, C.M.G., New Zealand Commissioneb, Beitish Phosphate Commission. Details are supplied herewith regarding the sixteenth year of operations at Nauru and Ocean Islands under Government ownership. The year terminated on 30th June last, and the shipments compare with the previous years as follows : — 1933-34. 1934-35. 1935-36. Tone. Tons. Tons. Nauru .. .. .. .. .. 379,100 457,900 506,600 Ocean .. ... .. .. ..177,489 237,982 319,779 Total .. .. .. .. 556,589 695,882 826,379 A substantial increase of 130,497 tons over the previous highest total will be noted, and, in view of the expanding demand for phosphatic fertilizers, an increase in output from the two Islands is again being aimed at for the current year. To permit of this, further plant is being installed at the Islands. Distribution of the output was as follows : United Kingdom, 6,000 tons ; Australia, 561,200 tons ; New Zealand, 192,879 tons ; other countries, 66,300 tons. The proportion of output which came to New Zealand was 23-34 per cent., as compared with 26-76 per cent, for 1933-34 and 30-84 per cent, for 1934-35. Importations to New Zealand compared with the two previous years are : 1933-34, 149,805 tons ; 1934-35, 201,665 tons ; 1935-36, 199,237 tons. During the period under review the weather conditions at the Islands have been favourable, and the health of the staff and labourers has been good, with the exception of an epidemic of influenza at Ocean Island last year. The loading arrangements at both Islands have continued to give satisfactory results, and rapid discharging of cargoes at New Zealand ports has been maintained. The Commission's m.v. " Triaster " and s.s. " Triona " are making fast trips between Australia and New Zealand and the Islands, the former having now delivered a total of twelve cargoes and the latter fifty-one in the two countries, besides carrying out any necessary mooring work.

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