Phosphate Trade

Nauru and Ocean Island Feel Depression

THE world depression has been re flected acutely in the business of the British Phosphate Commis sion, which administers Nauru and Ocean Island, under a League of Na tions mandate held jointly by Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

In normal times, about 400,000 tons of phosphate were shipped annually out of Nauru, carried in four ships to Australia and one to New Zealand each month. To-day, because farmers simply cannot buy superphosphate, production is down by 75 per cent, and one ship per month carries Nauru’s ex ports.

As a consequence, the European staff at Nauru has been reduced by about 16 in recent months. The same con ditions obtain in Ocean Island. About 250 Chinese labourers were repatriated from Nauru in May, and 300 from Ocean Island. It is reported that some hundreds more will be shipped home in September.

This industry will revive, of course, as soon as the depression passes and the farmers of Australia and New Zea land are again in a position to buy essential fertilisers.