Municipal Fish Market.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1922, Page 4

Municipal Fish Market.

AUCKLAND’S FAILURE.

AUCKLAND, March 24

A loss of £4013 for the nine months ended December 31st, 3921 is shown in tlm special report on the iish market undertaking, presented Lo the City Council last evening. The business was established in Docembei, 1914. Subsequently a retail shop was opened and in 1916 two trawlers were purchased. The report states chat there “always has been a less on purely fishing and market operations “ Tho total revenue to March 31st, 19‘-i was £164,090 5s 2d, including £13.610 17s 10s for hire of the Simplon lor mine sweeping during the war. while the expenditure was £163,948 7s Bd. leaving a credit balance of £lO5 17s fid. For the nine months - eml>’.:

December 31st., 1921. the revenue was £30,020 11s 1C I. and in- - ;■**« !| - turo £34,039 19s 2d. leaving a debit Balance of £4013 7s 4d.

The position at the end of the current financial year will, the committee states, lie slightly worse. In the last period there were abnormal costs for repairs to the Simplon. “The committee must have capital with which to cot facilities to run its business,” the report proceeds. It recommends the purchase of another trawler ol the Cowan type. This will give a very substantial increase in the piesent supplies, and could be handled without any increase in the shore staff oi overhead expenses. It will bo perfectly obvious that the increased quantity of fish available Irom a third trawler will substantially increase the revenue, without a coi l osponding increase in the cost of opeiating, the only cost, against the provisi®» of this increased quantity ol fislv I, ing for the trawler itself. The committee lias given the fullest consideration to this proposal. The only

alternative which the committee can submit is that the business lie discontinued. for it cannot be carried on ns at present. The committee wouid prefer the 'Council to be out of the. business, but peculiar conditions attaching thereto in the public interest make it advisable for the business 'to he continued, for the withdrawal of the Council would mean: (1) A very much reduced supply of fish; and (2) an increased price for fish to the public.” The report was re ion-red to the Council in committee.