FISH SUPPLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 75, 8 July 1942, Page 5

FISH SUPPLY

PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSION

MR W. SULLIVAN'S QUERY

During the course of the recent Parliamentary session Mr W. Sullivan (Ray of Plenty) said that the public was by no means satisfied with the present conditions relating to the supply of fish. At the present time fishermen required to be licensed and to sell their fish through a wholesale house at 2%d per lb. If the fishermen had a retail license, he was required to purchase his fish back from the wholesale house' at 3%d per lb. Although the wholesale system was probably operating satisfactorily in the larger centres, this was not the case in the smaller districts. Often friction arose between the licensed fishermen and the wholesale house. In one district an arrangement had been made whereby the fishermen had to pa - y 2 d per lb of fish to the wholesaler, although the wholesaler did not handle any of the fish. The matter should be investigated to see if a more satisfactory system could not be operated.

The Hon. R. Semple replying said that the item in this vote was in respect of scientific investigation. The question raised by the hon. gentleman ivas a matter for another Department.

Mr Sullivan said that more use should be made of coastal shipping. This would help to conserve tyres. His district had a very long coastal area, and there were instances of goods being carried back overland a distance of 100 miles to avoid the coastal vessels calling at Hick's Bay. The maintenance of coastal shipping generally was of national importance. Merchants and producers should be encouraged to make more extensive use of shipping facilities under present day conditions.

The Hon. Mr Semple: That matter is under review. We have eight or nine lorries going off the road within the next few days, and goods are to be carried on the coastal ships.