THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1919. THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 15 September 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1919. THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

I For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong 3 that need resistance, For the Xnture in the distance, And the good that Ve can do. -

In these times when the cost of Jiving is exercising the minds of all—more particularly the severely-taxed v.agccarncrs of the Dominion —it is pleasant to sec that some little attention is being given to the lishing industry. It is n disgraceful state of affairs when in a sea-girt country like New Zealand, with its waters teeming with millions *of fish of first-rate quality, its unparalleled fishing grounds within easy distance of almost any part of the country, the price of fresh fish is so enormously high as to make it an absoluteluxury, such as can be enjoyed by the few, instead of it being a cheap, i economical food for all classes, as it | certainly should be in a favoured land I like New Zealand. There, must be some- ] thing wrong somewhere when these t conditions obtain as they do. Take our own district fur instance. Here we are within a few miles from Jvapiti, recognised as one of the very best fishing grounds In these waters, while excellent returns are also obtained by fishing from ail along the coast-line. Yet. notwithstanding these favourable conditions, fresh fish is seldom obtainable, and when offered to the public the price is Is 2d to Is 4d per pound for such common fish as hapuka, sehnapper, cod. etc., fish that were selling a few years ago at about Sd to Id per pound. It is a remarkable fact that in 1912 our importation*, of dried, salted and canned fish amounted to no Jess than £IGB,ISS, and last year, notwithstanding war conditions, the. amount was. over £104,000. With the superabund ance of fish in our waters, instead of importing we should have a largo export trade. The canning of erayfi.-h \- specially mentioned, as there is a lar; supply all around the New Zeale. 1 coast; and the market has already bee.! opened up for us by the Government of Cape Coiony, where they have the same process. With its great extent of 1 coast-line in proportion to its area, and with its waters teeming with edible I •■fish, it might have been expected that (New Zealand would have been a country of fish-eating people; but such .■ is not the case. In Canada the annual I consumption of fish for every man, woman and child is at the rate of 25Ibs Iper head; in New Zealand it is only albs, and is mostly confined to the .-people in the cities and coastal towns. I What is the reason ? The answer is j the prohibitive cost of fish! It is pleasing to see that oar legislators are at last taking a little more interest in this question, which has such an important bearing on the cost of living. Not the least interesting portion of the report recently presented to Parliament by the Local Industries Committee was that referring to the fishing industry. The 1 Commission finds tkaf the solution the problem of development -of the in- 1 ditstry is to be given, in oh? word— J : f organisation: organisation for rr-.t eking. | '■ j distributing, and, B**s*sarjy I - t preserving the fish. 'The Commission » of opinion, that a reduction in price trots!! certainly result from .improved

methods of transportation, and recommends that an exhaustive report be obtained as to what is being done in New South Wales and Queensland. ing are a few of the most important of , the Commission’s recommendations:— 1 (1) That the Fisheries Department be administered as a separate division of j tho Marine Department, with a director j agd staff; (2) ■'■hat the Government should acquire and work steam trawlers, and should also establish fishchilling and ice-making plants in proximity to the fishing grounds, and engage generally in the business; (3) that Government advances be made to fishermen on the security of their boats and fishing outfits; (4) that the fishermen s boats be insured by the .State Ollice at a low rate; (5) that a systematic, scientific and practical survey of fishing grounds be undertaken without delay, and that the Government purchase a properly constructed and equipped vessel for this work; (6) that Government assistance be given to encourage the canning, curing, and commercial preparation of fish food, special attention being given to the canning of crayfish. These recommen-b'.tiens, if put into effect, should result in placing the fishing industry on a much better footing, increasing the supply of fish, and decreasing the cost. In the course of a discussion on the question in the House of Representatives on Friday last, several members stressed the need of taking some stringent measures such as those suggested by the Commission. Mr McCombs stated that Government ■ action in Australia had led to the cost j of fish being reduced by 55 per cent, i Dot us hope that members will not be j too busy, even in this short session,'to ! tackle this question seriously and cffccI tively, and thus bring about a mueh- ! needed reform in the industry.