Nauru’S Trade

Although Nauru is a somewhat iso lated territory, without a regular steam ship service with Australia, it is a pur chaser of large quantities of Australian goods.

There are on the island, in addition to 1,400 Nauruan natives, about 150 Europeans and 1,100 Chinese engaged in working the phosphate deposits.

This community imports each year goods to the value of about £150,000 and exports anything from £300,000 to £400,000 worth of phosphates. Much of the import trade is with Australia and the official report for last year shows that the imports included the following:

Nauru is one of the most prosperous communities in the Pacific. Its revenue is generally considerably in excess of its public expenditure and its annual statement of accounts shows that it always has a substantial cash balance in hand.

Miscellaneous foodstuffs . £33,135 Motor vehicles 2,118 Timber 3,958 Tobacco 3,418 Cigarettes 1,281 Liquors 2,600 Drapery and footwear 5,309