§ 65 and 66. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) who are the phosphate commissioners who dispose of the phosphate deposits on Nauru and Ocean Islands; what they are paid and who by; whether these phosphate commissioners have entered into a contract with Mr. G. V. Parker, giving the latter a monopoly in the distribution of all phosphates obtained from these islands on account of the British Government; what are the terms and duration of this contract; and are there any restrictions as to selling price or profits per ton;
(2) what is the estimated amount in tons of raw Nauru phosphate which will be available for distribution in this country, Australia, and New Zealand, respectively, under the terms of the Nauru Island Agreement Act during this and next year; whether, under the contract with Mr. G. V. Parker, the whole of the amount received by this country must be sold in this country, or may any of it be sold to Canada or other British Dominions or Colonies; and, if so, as raw phosphate or as mixture?
Sir A. BOSCAWENI have been asked to reply to these questions. The Commissioners, under the Nauru Island Agreement, are Mr. A. R. Dickinson, appointed by His Majesty's Government; Mr. H. B. Pope, appointed by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia; and Mr. A. F. Ellis, appointed by the Government of New Zealand. The first two receive salaries of £2,000 a year, and the New Zealand Commissioner receives £1,000 a year. In accordance with Article 2 of the Agreement, these salaries are payable from the proceeds of the sales of phosphates. With regard to the other points raised, as was explained on Monday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Kinross and West Perth, the 1358 Phosphate Commissioners and not the Ministry are the responsible body for making sales of Nauru phosphate. The Ministry has no information as to the tonnage available, or as to the methods by which the phosphate will be marketed in England by Mr. E. V. Parker, but I will make inquiries of the Commissioners and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAm I to understand that in this island, which is the property of the British Government, the Government have handed over all responsibility to three Commissioners, who can charge what they like for these phosphates without the Government having any say in the matter whatever?
Sir A. BOSCAWENWhat the Government has done is simply pursuant to the terms of the Act of Parliament which was passed about a year ago.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWill they introduce amending legislation as soon as possible to deal with this grave monopoly and scandal which has arisen?
§ 78. Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the statement made by the Ministry last autumn that he expected to put Nauru phosphate on the market at 2s. per unit has been realised, and if not, what is his present estimate of the price to the farmer; and what is the relative cost per phosphatic unit in the United Kingdom of raw Nauru phosphate, Florida phosphate, Peruvian phosphatic guano, superphosphate, and Bilston basis slag, respectively?
Sir A. BOSCAWENNo statement as to the price at which Nauru phosphate would be placed on the market has been issued by the Ministry at any time. As raw Nauru phosphate and Florida phosphate are not offered as such to the farmer, and as, according to the Ministry's information, Peruvian phosphatic guano is unobtainable here, it is impossible to give the relative cost per phosphatic unit of these materials in the United Kingdom. It is understood, however, that a mixture of ground Nauru phosphate and basic slag is being placed on the market by the Slag Phosphate Company at approximately 3s. per phosphatic unit. The present unit prices of phosphate of lime in superphos- 1359 phate and Bilston basic slag delivered to the farmer's nearest station are understood to be:
Unit Price s. d. Superphosphate 30 per cent. soluble phosphate of lime 5 6 Superphosphate 35 per cent. soluble phosphate of lime 5 4½ Bilston basic slag 30 per cent. total phosphates 4 5
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWill the right hoe. Gentleman take early steps to see that British farmers are not ruthlessly exploited by this monopoly granted to Mr. Parker to export this Nauru Island phosphates?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe figures I have quoted show that the "ruthless monopoly price" is about 2s. 6d. less than the other.