300 FISHERMAN IDLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1362, 13 February 1912, Page 4

300 FISHERMAN IDLE.

DEADLOCK IN AUCKLAND. (Bt Teleeraiiti—Press Association.l Auckland, February 12, To-day 300. fishermen in Auckland are idle. On Saturday 5, mass meeting of tho men of the fishin'g (loot was held, and it was decided that rather than accede to the demand of wholesale buyers l'or a reduction in tho price of fish, the ileet should lie laid up with tho exception ol a limited number of boats, which will each day bring a supply of fresh fish to the wharves, and there retail them to customers. On inquiry boim; made amongst wholesale dealers it was ascertained that the difficulty had arisen because the fishermen want to make what was understood to be a temporary increase in price a permanent one. In December last tho weather was unfavourable, and fish scarce, and accordingly the price was raised from 2s. to 2s. (id. per bundle, an increase nf 25 per cent. A bundle, it may lie explained, consists of. at the least tour, and at the most IG, fish, and must weigh 241b. While the wholesale firms have been paying 2s. 6d. per bundle, the retailers have .had to pay 35., and the consumer has accordingly found fish comparatively dear. Now the wholesalers declare the school fish have come in, and the weather is again dependable. Consequently they want to sec the price reduced to normal, as the demand had fallen off during the past two months because of the high rate ruling, and also possibly because fruit and other summer foodstuffs are cheap and plentiful. The country trade, it is declared, has nlso been just about ruined because of the high price prevailing. One dealer showed letters from retailers in the Waikato, at .liotoruo.. and 'Paranaki, cancelling all shipments until fish is less dear. Correspondence was also produced showing that the trade in frozen fish with Sydney had suffer'Kl severely for a like reason. The dealers complain of a qencral fallins; off in the demand because of the prohibitive- price, and say that thoy had to ■imit the fishermen to one trip per week. With a reduced price, tho demand would bo greater and the iishormnn could cot in more (rips. Accordingly the wholesale Buyers of Auckland have with one exception decided that they will not pay more , than 2s. per bundle from now on. This 1 mandate tho fisherman refuse to accept. Jtost of them have laid up their boats, but a few keep up a limited supply and sell only from tho wharves. The position is therefore an acute one. i th; wholesale buyers refusing to pay moro than 2s. per bundle, and the fishermen refusing to go out and catch fieh I for less than 2s. (id. per bundle. "In tho meantime, with the exception of two firms have to rely on a few private boals, the wholesalo buyers will hnve to draw on then , reserves in the freezing chambers.