THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2187, 9 October 1920, Page 2

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

There was only a small attendance at the meeting of fishermen and others interested in the fishing industry convened by the local Chamber of Commerce, and held in the Town Hall yesterday morning. The president of the Chamber (Mr 4. M. Barr) presided and explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of placing before those interested the Government’s proposals for encouraging the fishing in-

dnstry and to ascertain if the fishermen in this locality were desirous of taking advantage of the Fishng Promotion Act in order to extend and develop the industry locally. The position was tin l Government: would advance to fishermen or companies money for the purchase of boats and material for lishing purposes or for the erection of cold storage or canning plants, to the extent of up to three (puii'lei's of the value of same. The repayment was spread over a period of ten years by half-yearly instalments. He hoped that as a result of the meeting the fishermen would get; together and discuss the proposals with a view to taking advantage of the assistance of the Government. The Mayor (Mr J. Chrystall) said the Government was anxious to foster the lishing industry and he hoped the local fishermen would carefully consider the proposals which he considered were very liberal indeed. Mr Perrean said the Chamber was anxious to assst the local fishermen to extend the industry and fishermen could rely on the Chamber's co-op-eration in any movement in this direct ion. The Chairman said there was no doubt the lishing industry in this locality was capable of great development. There tfas any amount of lish near at hand and it appeared to he only a (|uestioii of gelling the right class of lishing boa I to get very large supplies. Mr TuiiiiielilTe said the lishermen were fairly conversant with the provisions of the Fishing Industries Promotion Act. Foxton was somewhat difficult to work as far as lishing was concerned unless one had a boat (hat was powerful enough to work the bar at any time and of course to obtain such a vessel worn! lie too big an undertaking for the local lishermen. Mr Hannah did not agree that Foxton was hard to work. Provided the vessel had sntUeienl power to gel' over the bar good lishing could always he got outside. A. suitable boat would probably cost from .CSOO to TtiOO, and this was a fairly “big hurdle.” lie considered the present, was not an opportune lime to Hi out a lishing plant as the cost of material was so high. Mr Chrystall said if there was plenty of fish in ilie adjacent waters it might lie a good idea to form a company and go in for a trawler. Mr Hannah said there was any amount of lish. At the present," time one trawler (the Nora Niven) was constantly engaged between Kapili and the Rangilikei river and was doing very well. Mr Chrystall said Hie eo.-l of a trawler Indore the war was about £4OOO. The Chairman said that: it; it: was intended to take advantage of the Government assistance hr considered it would he wise not to delay 100 long as there was always (he risk of someone else stepping in. He suggested that the lishermen should got together and discuss the whole thing and see what could lie done. Mr Tiiunielifle said the lishermen were pleased that the Chamber were taking an interest in the lishing industry. They considered that ?f they laid a clearing station in the town where nil the lish could be sent, and then distributed it would assist the industry locally. After some further discus-ion Air Tumiielifl’e promised to get the fishermen together, ami he and Mr Hannah would pal the proposals before them and a report would later lie submitted to the Chamber of Commerce.