STEWART ISLAND FISHERMEN

Evening Star, Issue 22446, 17 September 1936, Page 12

STEWART ISLAND FISHERMEN

MINISTER AUTHORISES RELIEF [From Oor Parliamentary Reporter.] September 17. Commenting ion the report of hardship amongst the fishermen of Stewart Island, the Minister of Labour (Mr Armstrong) explained that, as a matter of policy, it had been necessary for his department to resist numerous applications for employment relief made by persons engaged in competitive businesses, in which category the fishing industry was included; otherwise there was no knowing where the stopping place would he in granting assistance from the employment promotion fund, and those m small businesses might find themselves seriously embarrassed through competitors being subsidised from a State fund. ■' The Minister added that the. local member, Mr Hargest, had for some time been making representations with the object of having some form of assistance granted the Stewart Island fishermen daring the period of slackness, and the Minister had been investigating the position. Hitherto he had not been able to see his way clear to authorise the granting of relief, but he had now received information that the Stewart Island men did not catch fish for the New Zealand market, but for export to Australia. ' This had put a different complexion on the case, and distinguished the Stewart Island fishermen from other applicants engaged in competitive businesses in the New Zealand market. As a result he felt justified in departing from the strict rule referred to. Arrangements had accordingly been made with the local County Council to grant relief to necessitous cases on the recommendation of the local certifying officer. The council would be reimbursed by the Labour Department. These arrangements would, of course, apply only during the period of extraordinary slackness in the Stewart Island fishing industry. Mr Semple, Minister of Works, discussing the suggestion of the construction of a road from Halfmoon Day to Mason’s Beach as relief work, stated that a telegraphic report was received from the resident engineer at Invercargill, This indicated that the proposal was estimated to cost somewhere in the vicinity of £20,000. “ In the opinion of the engineer,” added the Minister, “it did not appear ■justifiable work. I informed the Stewart Island County Council on September 14 that, until I had suiiicient information to enable me to decide on the full merits of the proposal, 1 was not prepared to make any financial provision. 1 pointed out that the position of these fishermen could be eased if the council would expedite submission to my department of plans and specifications of works for which financial provision had already been made on the Public Works Estimates. These moneys are available, and the council could commence several jobs immediately its plans are approved.”