FISH PRICES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 112, 24 February 1950, Page 4

FISH PRICES

CONTROL ABOLISHED INCREASE IN SUPPLY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. Control over the price of fish is to be abolished from to-morrow. Announcing this to-day the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr C. M. •Bowden) said the decision was in line with the Government’s policy of relaxing price control when supplies of goods had increased to the poiij where the free play of competiticw could be expected to keep a check on prices. The Minister said supplies appeared to be adequate to satisfy the public’s demand and Government control over the prices of fish no longer seemed necessary. The average annual quantity of fish (excluding shellfish) landed in New Zealand in the two years before the war was approximately 17,380 tons. The latest statistics showed landings for recent years had been about 22,000 tons a year.

Increased supplies had been available to local markets and New Zealand had also been able to expand the fish export trade with Australia until for the most recent year for which statistics were available the total quantity (excluding shellfish) exported was more than 2700 tons.

In lifting control of fish prices the Government relied on the co-operation of all sections of the trade in keeping supply and prices at a reasonable level, said Mr Bowden. Fishermen did fine work in all weathers in keeping the markets supplied.