THE FISH MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1781, 20 June 1913, Page 6

THE FISH MARKET.

Sir,—The letter in your issue of Juno 18 from a Nelson fisherman throws a. lurid glare upon the success (?) of tho muni-cipally-directed fisli market in this city. Tho writer points out that as a result of consignments of 420 large fresh echnapper, lie received tlio magnificent sum of on© penny per fish, thus indicating that any slight benefit derived by the public is at tho expense, firstly, of the unfortunate producer; and, secondly, to the ratepayers generally, owing to the concern being unable to pay its way. Frantic efforts are continually mad? by tho lato Mayor and Councillor Fletcher, who were primarily responsible for its establishment, to prove its success and the benefits extended to all concerned, but a few figures will show tlio fallacy of these statements. , ~ , From statistics that I have been able to gather, I find that the fish trade of the city runs into. ',£35,000 to -£40,000 per year, out of which the Municipal Market controls only about £2000. Comment is needTlie Market Committeo of the corporation and its chairman aro now attracting public attention, and I venture to assert that a few moro returns for fish, such as recordod above, will no doubt stimulate the council in finding a happy reloaso from a somewhat complicated position, by consigning the committeo on markets to oblivion, thus giving the present memberg an opportunity to moro practically conservo tho interests of_ tho city, than endeavouring to galvanise life and move« ment into wmTE ELEPHANT.