Phosphate As
pp. 33-34 · Read in the full issue
War Factor
Great Value of Pacific Fields
BECAUSE this war has a great economic background, and economic considerations frequently cause moves which do not appear to be justi fied on military grounds, it is important to consider the phosphate industry of the Pacific.
Pacific phosphate is taken from three main sources: Nauru Island and Ocean Island (in the Central Pacific—both British) and Makatea Island (in French Oceania); and smaller supplies come from New Caledonia and Netherlands Indies.
Modern farming conditions made an adequate supply of phosphate rock, for conversion into super-phosphates, indis pensable; and three great agricultural countries —Australia, New Zealand and Japan—draw their main supplies of phosphate from the places mentioned.
Nauru and Ocean Island carry depo sits of approximately 100,000,000 tons of the finest phosphate rock in the world — it has a phosphate content of 80 per cent. In the year ended June 30, 1939, those two islands exported 1,224,515 tons of phosphate rock. The British Phos phate Commission which works the deposits on the two islands reports that in that year Australia took 800,000 tons, New Zealand 300,000 tons, Britain 60,000 tons, and the balance was divided between Japan and Scandinavia. Maka tea, the French Island, produced appro ximately 100,000 tons per annum in pre war days, which went mostly to Pacific markets.
The world’s largest producers of phos phate rock are, in their order of import ance; United States, Tunisia, Morocco, and Nauru-Ocean Island. Although Nauru and Ocean Island come only fourth in production, they carry the richest rock.
As a result of war conditions, the organisation which supplies phosphate rock to Australia and New Zealand fell into some confusion —partly as the result of shipping disorganisation, and partly owing to a sharply increased demand for phosphate from the Pacific. By August, 1940, the price had risen considerably in Australia, supplies had fallen, and agriculturists and pastoralists were in a state of high alarm. However, the Prices Commissioner in Australia took control of the situation and forced the interests concerned to reduce their price by 4/- per ton as from July 1; while the Phosphate Commission announced, about the same time, that new arrangements would permit larger production on the islands and more regular shipments.
The New Zealand Phosphate Commis sioner (Sir Albert Ellis) said in Auckland that he expected Nauru-Ocean Island to produce at the rate of 1,250,000 tons per annum. He said the labour supply there had been considerably increased by bringing in Chinese from Hongkong and native labourers from the Gilbert and Ellice Group. There are now on the two islands 175 Europeans, and 2,500 labour ers, engaged on phosphate rock produc tion, Japanese agricultural industry, to an increasing extent, is dependent upon good, regular supplies of phosphate; and Japan, in consequence, is intensely inter ested in the future control of the phos phate islands. There are phosphate deposits on the Japanese mandated
islands (Carolines, Marshalls, etc.), but they provide less than 100,000 tons per annum, whereas in an ordinary year, before the war, Japan imported about 1,000,000 tons of phosphate rock.
Japan buys largely from Nauru-Ocean Island and Makatea and, in this con nection, it is worth remembering that, when the Great War broke out, in 1914, and Australian, New Zealand and Japan ese forces moved out rapidly into the Pacific to occupy the German colonies, an Australian force had settled in Nauru, and raised the British flag there, only a few hours before a Japanese force appeared.
If ever war conditions should develop between Britain and Japan, the two great phosphate islands of Nauru and Ocean Island, only a few hundred miles
from the Japanese Mandated Terri tories, would be in a very exposed position.
There is interest, also, in the future of the French island of Makatea. The deposits there, which are very consider able and very rich, have been controlled by a French company. There is no information as to what has been going on there since the collapse of France; and, if the French Empire is not restored, the future of Makatea is bound to be the subject of a diplomatic headache or two, in the future.
Mr. Joseph McCarthy, a Government teacher on one of the Torres Strait Is lands, married Miss Viti Smith, of Wollongong, NSW, recently.
Mrs. Frances Augusta Evelyn Swann, who spent more than 57 years in Fiji, died at Suva in November, aged 89. Mrs.
Swann arrived in the Colony in 1883 with her first husband, Mr. Cutbush; and, following his death some years later, she married Mr. Arthur James Swann. Mrs.
Swann had a large family, most of whom are well-known residents of Fiji.
Mr. and Mrs. Y. S. Chen arrived at Suva, Fiji, recently, where he will take up the position of Chinese Vice-Consul in the Colony. Mr. Chen, who formerly was stationed in India, replaces Mr. C.
T. Tsiang, who left Suva in November for Bombay.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Pitt, after a holi day in Australia, recently returned to Rabaul, TNG, and later proceeded to Madang, where Mr. Pitt has taken over the duties of Assistant District Officer.