Nauru by July
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Phosphate From Nauru by July 500 Nauruans Still Missing
IT was announced in Canberra on Jan uary, 17 that considerable progress had been made by the Administration and the British Phosphate Commissioners in the rehabilitation of the island of Nauru which was occupied by Japanese forces in August, 1942, and remained in
enemy control until the surrender of the Japanese forces on the island to an Aus tralian force on September 13, 1945.
All buildings and installations of both the Administration and of the British Phosphate Commissioners had been de molished or considerably damaged.
The general administration of the island, including the care of the native population, is a matter for the Adminis tration, and the mining and shipment of phosphate is a function of the British Phosphate Commissioners comprising representatives of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. At present, the representatives are: Mr. W. Bankes Amery, United Kingdom; Sir Clive McPherson, Australia; and Sir Albert Ellis, New Zealand.
Temporary buildings for administration purposes, including the wireless station, have been completed and a permanent wireless station is in course of erection.
The wireless station was equipped and staffed by Amalgamated Wireless (A/asia), Ltd., and has been open for normal traffic since the middle of Novem ber. The native community generally is happy and contented and has shown con siderable improvement in health since the re-occupation of the island.
AFTER the surrender of the Japanese, it was found that 1,200 Nauruans had been transferred by the Japanese from Nauru to the Caroline Islands, and inquiries made disclose now that 762 of these natives are located at Truk. The Director of Police of the Nauruan Administration (Mr. T. H. Cude) was despatched some time ago to Truk to contact these natives and to arrange for their repatriation to Nauru, and also to make inquiries .as to the fate of the other natives who were said to have been transferred from Nauru Arrangements have been made to des patch a vessel of the British Phosphate Commissioners to the Caroline Islands to transfer the natives to their home on Nauru.
The extensive buildings and plant of the British Phosphate Commissioners were destroyed and damaged to an even greater extent than had been anticipated, but the plans of the Commissioners for reconsruction are well advanced, and it is expected that phosphate shipments will commence not later than July 1, 1946.
Quantities will be limited for the first 12 months, but thereafter will increase rapidly.