FISH SUPPLIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 13, 3 October 1944, Page 5

FISH SUPPLIES

EXISTING SYSTEM UNFAIR

The necessity for the people, receiving a cheaper and more liberal supply of fish was stressed by Mr W. Sullivan (National, Bay of Plenty) when discussing the Estimates in the House of Representatives. The system of licensing and the wholesale structure was not entirely satisfactory, and might be improved, he said. During the previous twelve months the quantity of fish exported amounted to £98,000. Blue cod accounted for 30 per cent of the fish exported. It appeared that in the smalller districts the licensing system militated against the local supply of fish. Fishermen were compelled to place their catch with the wholesaler who also had a retail licence, and the wholesaler could please himself whether he landed back any fish to other retail shops. A booklet issued-by the Economic Information) Service for the Economic Stabilisation Commisr#ion in 1944, stated that in

Wellington and Auckland the price of fish was controlled by price ordbut that in other places "the price should not be higher than at the outbreak of war unless special authority had been given by the Price Tribunal." The general increase in the price of fish through' out the countfy suggestexl that the Price Tribunal had given a general permission for an increase in the price of fish.