STATE AID FOR FISHING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 723, 24 July 1929, Page 6

STATE AID FOR FISHING

ADVANCES NOT SATISFACTORY (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Tuesday. Advances by the State Advances Department to the fishing industry have not worked satisfactorily, according - to a statement made by the Prime Minister, the Rt. lion. Sir Joseph Ward, in the House of Representatives today, when replying to a brief discussion on the annual return relative to department and the fishing industry. The case for the assistance of the industry was stressed by the Rev. C. L. Carr (Tiniaru) and Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) and, while agreeing that if possible help should be given, Mr. W. Downie Stewart (Dunedin West) pointed out that there was a difficulty in regard to insurance. He recalled one case where an advance had been made, subject to the fishing being done inside the boundaries of the Hauraki Gulf, but the man had gone further afield, his boat had been wrecked, and the insurance company had repudiated liability. Subsequently the department had become alarmed over the advances which might meet that same fate. Mr. Stewart thought that it might be more feasible if the advances were confined to the maintenance of freezing chambers, stores and gear. In reply the Prime Minister said that the advances had not "worked out satisfactorily. The return showed that only £2OO was advanced last year. The total amount of advances outstanding at March 31 last was £1,025. It was a question of getting security. The results had been so unsatisfactory that the department was not going on with it. His sympathies were with those who had urged consideration for the industry. Mi*. Fraser: Perhaps you will look into it?

The Prime Minister: Y'es, I will do that.