FISHING INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, 16 September 1916, Page 7

FISHING INDUSTRY

ADVAXTAHES OK TR AW U \i"i. IXTEXTIOX'S OF THE OOVERXMENT. AUCKi,\.\l!. Kept. 13. 'I"l)». Minister ui" Marine <Hn;>. R. MA'.-ti.i). in a statement yesterday ivyarding th~ ailvnnhhj", of tr :wlin_. -aid. that- his IVpartmenl. in view of tin- "increase in (ho price-: of fit. 1 ;or food-Luffs, was now paying s:.e< ial atti-ni inn ;o the I'jiHfstiii!) of trawling. Suth need I"cir development of (he fish industry- had never befnre existed. A movement was'now f>n font in Wellington for the commencement of trawling and for an imp>ove<l and rennlir supply of fi-h. The in'enlion. of the Department, if the four chief centres could, arrange for (rood marketing conditions, was to encourage, not only the trawling industry. hut also the smaller fishermen who carried on net and line fishing in boats, and who could secure fish that a trawler did not catch. This wns the recommendation of Professor Prince, and the <"!oveviimfnt proposed to follow it out. Next year, said the Minister, he intended to introduce a scheme to assist returned' soldiers who were formerly engaged in seafaring occupations in engaging in ihe fishing industry. Assistance would be given, as in the Old Country, in the way of advances and in insurance of boats snd cquinment. A start would he made in a small way. and when conditions agai.n became ncrin.nl the scheme could be extended. As to <listributina: facilities, experience showed that the most successful nlan was to pro.vide markets in the leading centres and to supply the smaller country and coastal centres from these large towns. Til referring to the nossibilities of the extension of trawling, T)r M -\'b said that the hn-cer (his- of trailers would probably be found advisable. Such ste'tniers could ao further alk-id. Mid with facilities for storing and p. csei vm:.' fish would be able to remain out lnnjrer from hnme. Old Oounrtv trawlers, he nointod mil. were now going .-,s far as Iceland.- which was further ;'•::;; tltt-ir base than .Australian wat»vs were fioni Now Zealand. He sugge-'; >d the po-M----"nility. if or.r own exoe I .'>i'L i'-i.i.'i grounds were not more i-i<\- i: 've'ered, of Anstrnlrm trawlers ihe- ;t----tention to Dominion wateis