THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1043, 4 February 1911, Page 4

THE OYSTER INDUSTRY.

STATE CONTROL SUGGESTED. ' The fame of the Stewart Island or Bluff oysters is wide-spread, and they ore really a great national asset, being undeniably a luxury which is well 'within tho reach of the working man. Tho oyster season opened on February 1, but the first consignment will not arrive here until this morning. . The oysters come by express train, as direct as possible, from the Bluff, their point of discharge from the cutters of Foveaux Strait. It is because of their popularity that tho public views with some slight dismay thp news that the retail prico of "Stewarts" is to bo raised from 4d. to 6d. per dozen. A Dominion representative made a few inquiries yesterday, arid ascertained why tho oystervoudors had decided to be so inconsiderate. One dealer explained the position lucidly.

"Last year we paid 17s. a sack (estimated to hold 8U dozen) for oysters; two years ago the prico was 16s. per sack, and five or six years'ago it was 13s. or 14s, per sack. This year Messrs. Roderick and Irwin, who_ practically control the whole of the North Island trade, asked for 19s. per sack, urging that they had had to shift their beds at the Bluff, and increased cost of labour as the reason. This was, howevor, too much for tho saloon keepers, who asked Mr. Roderick to meet them. As tho outcome of tho meeting Mr. Roderick came to terms, and these were that if the oysters were shipped through by express from tho Blulf to Lyitolton, the prico would bo 19s. per slick, and if by direct steamer los. per sack, but that is too much,. anyhow. At times the oyster-saloon keeper has a sack going bad on him, and he has to pay for its cartage to tho destructor. This is why we have to raise tho prico from 4d. to 6d. a dozen. This is an industry that the Government ought to take up. 'Stewarts' are the best of food for tho people, and there are inexhaustible supplies off the Bluff. If the State was to turn its attention to it, the public would got cheaper oysters, and it would still . pay handsomely."