MUNICIPAL FISH TRAWLERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2208, 22 July 1914, Page 8

MUNICIPAL FISH TRAWLERS

WILL THEY BRING CHEAP. FISH?. At the Municipal Conference last week> Mr. R. Fletcher made a 6trong appeal to delegates to support a remiturging the Government to pass legislation to enable municipalities to go in for steam trawlers. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Fletcher dwelt on the.establishment of the fish market in Wellington, and the need for the means of getting a steady supply.' Mr.-R. T. Michaels (Auckland), in supporting Mr. Fletcher, spoke of the excessive prico of fish, and of Professor Prince being shocked to learn what was being paid in Auckland for fish, where it was known that there was a ring, which kept the prices up. Mr. W. .J. M'Gratli (Napier) said that Mr, Niven had probably known more about fish'than' anyone iu New Zealand, and he had said that whilst fish could bo sold at 4d. per lb. at tho quay-side, it took, another 8d; per lb. to deliver to-the houses. He said that he was very glad to see that flounders were beiug sold that day at the market for sixpenco per lb., when the price was much higher. Mr. Fletcher: "Tenpencel" The remit was passed. Professor Prince, the visiting Fisheries Expert from Canada, has expressed surprise St the high cost of fish m New. Zealand, 'but has never advocated trawling by municipalities' or by anyone else. .On the other hand, he, in tho course of a recent interview, warned not to think of going in ■for trawling without making the closest inquiry into the whole business. Ho could quote no municipality who -undertook any such precarious work anywhere, but on the other' hand ho knew that the operations of the private trawling companies were being restricted more and more, owing to a stricter definition of trawling areas owing to tli<v threatened depletion of in-shore sup plies.