CHEAPER FISH.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1921, Page 12

CHEAPER FISH.

AN AUCKLAND PROPOSITION. An unusual sort of a letter was read at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council. It was from a trawling firm, Sandford, Ltd., of Auckland, and practically amounted to a plea for a declaration of non-persecution on the part of the Council as a preliminary to the company starting operations in this locality.' The letter stated that the firm had purchased steam trawlers in England with the intention of supplying cheaper fish to the population of New Zealand, and one vessel for a start would be allotted for the supplying of Christchurch with fish. The object in approaching the Council was to ascertain if that body and the citizens would welcome the new enterprise, or would the company be opposed and persecuted, as was the case in Auckland when the Auckland City Council did all in its power to prevent the free and open sale of fish in a free and public market, and turned what should have been a public market into a private business run by the Council, and which from every point of view had 'proved a failure. The writer added: I see no way bf connecting the sea with the kitchens of the city unless we can get access to the people through a public market, where we can auction our fish if necessary in large or small quantities. We want no special favors; but if* the Council will give us a fair deal and a public market for the sale of our fish, I feel sure development of the fishing industry will be no small factor in the turning of the tide leading to .prosperity. We can send immediately one vessel to work for the supplying of your city with fish, and can increase the number of vessels as the demand for fish warrants, if you can promise that we, if not assisted, shall not be persecuted by legislative action on the part of your Council.

The following report from the City Council’s chief inspector was attached to the foregoing letter: If Sandford can land newly-caught fish direct in Christchurch, as he states, from the sea to the kitchen, he will find plenty of buyers and plenty of room for prosperous business. At present the fish trade on the East Coast of the South Island is held by the freezing industry, and those controlling it are able to limit the supplies ami regulate the prices to suit themselves. I’or this reason there is a good opportunity for Sandford’s company. The Council decided to refer the letter to the Markets Committee. Cr. Andrews moved jocularly: “That the letter be received and the writer informed that Christchurch would never do as Auckland does.” The reading of the letter was received with laughter.