THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1979, 28 June 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1880.

An adverse fortune Las frequently the effect of nerving the individual to exertions which ultimately lead to success. It is somewhat disappointing, therefore, to find that none of tho unemployed have struck into new lines of gaining a livelihood. We are aware that it requires considerable courage to leave the beaten track, hut public sympathy and assistance would surely follow those who made the attempt. Moreover, in the comparatively settled state that most parts of New Zealand are now in, the hardships to he undergone in new ventures are nothing to those which were cheerfully encountered by the old settlers. There is no doubt hut that in tho centres of population the labor market is overstocked. But what if we look further afield ? In the matter of those of tho unemployed who are married, the difficulties connected with their families have to he taken into consideration and seriously complicate the problem. But we are alluding now more to tho unmarried unemployed, and we confess to feeling that, on the whole, they have shown no groat originality or enterprise in the present crisis. We have not heard of small parties of them setting out for the numerous goldfields, where “ tucker ” can always be earned, or for those parts of the country where a very fair living can now be made by catching rabbits. It is certain that if any enterprises of this description had been organised the public would have been eager to find what was wanted to start the men in their new ventures, for the public would have recognised and admired the spirit which led them to desert the beaten track which refused any longer to support them. We are aware that there would be found difficulties in tho formation of such parties, but difficulties are made to he overcome, and sympathising deeply as we do with those who are now in distressed circumstances, we feel that tho unemployed as a body would gain in dignity and weight if those of them who could afford to do so relied rather less on a paternal Government or a well-meaning municipality. In connection with the above subject we have before us a scheme fathered by Mr. Morgan, of this city, with regard to finding work for a number of hands in tho formation of a fishing station in the Sounds on the north of this islaud. Mr. Morgan premises that tho scheme should bo aided by the Government, so that it eau he hardly altogether called a private enterprise, but it, nevertheless, enters into the category of the schemes we have been advocating above, inasmuch as it strikes into a now lino

hitherto but little developed, and Government aid is but a subsidiary factor - in the calculation. We are merely giving 1 the scheme for what it is worth, and by t way of an example of others that might ■ be planned, and we are in no way pinning < our faith to it; but it can do no harm for • the unemployed to have placed before them sketches of plans that have been thought out for developing new industries and obtaining work for those now out of employ. And in this connection it may be stated that the outlines of the plan have been forwarded to Government by Mr. Morgan, and that he has received a reply stating that his communication will be laid before the Native Industries Commission. Mr. Morgan proposes to form two fishing stations in the Sounds in the neighborhood of Durvlllo Island for drying and salting fish, and sending them away fresh in tanks. It is well know that the Sounds are swarming with all sorts of fish. The blue cod, the snapper, the herring, the kawai, the trumpeter, and nearly every fish known in New Zealand abound there. There are, too, shoals of fish resembling very much the English sprat. Indeed a boat-load of fish can he obtained in a marvellously short space of time. It has always been so. As will bo seen by reference to the “ Now Zealand Pilot,” when H.M.S. Pandora was in those parts in 1855, under the command of Captain Drury, the crow caught sufficient with a hook and line to servo them, when dried, for several days, a fact duly chronicled by Captain Drury, in the description of his cruise. For each of the proposed fishing stations would be required one steam launch and two whaleboats. The launch would be used for catching the black fish and porpoises which would he tried down for oil, a no unprofitable proceeding, for a black fish produces between five and six gallons of oil, equal to castor oil for machinery, and which fetches in this market 4s per gallon. Both porpoiso hides and black fish hides might ho cured and shipped to England where they always find a ready market. On shore, too, in those parts, there is some good agricultural land, and much fine timber, both of which might he utilized if the number of men which Mr. Morgan hopes might be settled up there for fishing purposes once commenced operations. The cooperation of the Government in assisting this fishery scheme is apparently essential. It is a scheme of some magnitude, and it would possibly pay the Government to afford the facilities and assistance asked for. On this wo offer no opinion. Viewed, however, by the light of what has already been done in deep sea fishing here, there is considerable ground for confidence in Mr. Morgan’s scheme. The deep sea fishing scheme that was inaugurated here some time back failed, no doubt ; but it was less from the weakness of the scheme itself than from other causes. In the first place the affair was too much “ directed.” The central organising force was too cumbrous and costly. In the second place, the manner in which tho supply of fish was directed to the various centres of population was injudicious ; they were sometimes over-flooded with fish, and at other times the market was completely bare. In the third place, great difficulty was experienced with the ! fishermen, who wore found not to ho sufficiently amenable to discipline, These causes conjoined brought the deep sea | fishing scheme to a disastrous termination. But these lessons were learnt—that, where the supply of fish was judiciously managed, there was always a market, and that in the great towns in Australia the demand for New Zealand salted and dried fish was practically unlimited. The fish merchants there declared that they would always be ready to take any amount that might be supplied them. We have dwelt at some length on Mr. Morgan’s scheme as affording an example of a new line of industry adapted to those who feel a vocation “ for going down to the sea in ships.” It is certainly not every man who would be well adapted for the management of boats and the more active work, but, on the other hand, no very special training would be required for salting and drying operations. We might advert to other schemes, and may probably do so at a future date, but what we have said is sufficient to point the moral we desire to inculcate, namely, that when the beaten paths of industry arc overcrowded it will be well to search high and low for now and profitable employment.