Talk:British Phosphate Commission

GOOD DAY !

I am the eldest grandson of one of the long-term General Managers of the British Phosphate Commissioners - and I submit the following details from information passed to me by my uncle Alfred Edwards Gaze, the LAST General Manager of the BPC, and from my (now elderly) father.

1. Please note the term 'Commission' is NOT strictly correct - there were commissioners (one from NZ, one from UK, one from Australia), but technically never a 'commission' as such. These commissioners were directly appointed by the respective national governments of these three countries to ensure a supply of much needed (especially for Australia's poor soils), fertilizer for farmers; one rich in super-phosphate.

2. My grandfather, Alfred Harold Gaze, whom I never knew, was a long-serving General Manager and succeeded his father in this position. He was awarded a British Honour (CBE) on 6 June 1933, for his services to the industry, and to the commissioners. My grandfather died at 67 in 1954, much lamented by his family, his Church, and the BPC commissioners and staff. He held his position until his death, and I understand had continued work, and remained in office, until only a few days before his death.

3. A book published in 1985 by M. U. P. (Brown Prior Anderson), entitled 'The Phosphateers' co-authored by Maslyn Williams and Barrie MacDonald (ISBN 0 522 84302 6) documents the extensive efforts over a considerable period of time both to mine 'guano' (bird droppings), AND to ensure the Nauruans and Ocean Islanders were adequately financially compensated at the time. Such mining ceased when my uncle, now long retired, was directed to, and wound up the entire operation permanently in 1985, co-inciding with his (then) retirement. This book was reviewed publicly by Nancy Phelan in Melbourne's 'Age' newspaper on 19 October 1985. That review, which should be obtainable by contacting the newspaper, and asking for archival copy, is a good place to start further research. It is extensive.

4. Conditions during the second World War became extremely risky for all inhabitants of Nauru and Ocean Island. Apparently my grandfather went well beyond the call of 'duty' to send more than one ship to remove all inhabitants before the Japanese attacked. Some chose to remain. After the war, only the slaughtered remains of those who defied his earnest pleas to leave and save their lives, remained (on Nauru, at least). ALL who remained were slaughtered by the Japanese - it was war, after all.

5. My family and pre-decessors are private people, however, as a professional engineer, and one who has given much time voluntarily to many community projects, I did not want to pass by the chance to set the record a little clearer on some of the interesting facts of a very long term mining and supply operation that helped thousands of farmers in three continents be more productive for over eighty years since the early 1900's.

6. Please direct any questions to myself by e-mail - my uncle is now over 85, and in very poor health, and my father has only second hand knowledge, having never personally visited either Nauru or Ocean Island. I will endeavour to respond within one month to any reasonable questions I can answer, or I will do my best to point readers in an appropriate direction.

My personal best wishes to 'Wikipedia', a most interesting (and FREE) cyclopedia !

Regards Harold Keith Gaze. KGhistory (talk) 12:32, 15 February 2008 (UTC) Surrey Hills, Melbourne, Australia. Text previously prensent on the article--Kimdime69 (talk) 20:56, 16 February 2008 (UTC)