THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1908. A PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9034, 22 January 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1908. A PROSPECTIVE INDUSTRY.

There is an industry which might be carried on in this district with profit to those who engage in itandigireat advantage to the community as a whole. At the present time we are dependent maii;ly upon Napier for our fish supplies, and as a result fell is scai'ce and dear, while the quality' necessarily deteriorates by ice-pack-ing and railage over a long distance. Yet we have within thirty or thirtyfive miles of lis a never-ending source of supply, which would be opened to us if tie Government could be induced to take the necessary steps. We refer to the mouth of the Whr.reama river, and the sea-line adjacent to it. The chief obstacle to the utilisation of this source of supply is the lack of access to the river at a point between the Blairlogie-Homc-wood road running through the Kohiwai estate to what i<* known as the old landing-stage 011 the Wharcama. The distance is but 75 chains, but the land, we understand, is held in fee-simp!e, and the owner or occupier is disinclined to grant a thoroughfare through the jrtfperty to the river. This necessitates a long detour over rough country, in addition to five miles of horse-packing, for anyone engaged in the fishing industry and"desiring to trade with Masterton and adjacent towns. Spasmodic efforts have been made from time to time to establish a fishing industry at the mouth of the Whare-

ama, but the difficulties of transit solely due to the cause mentioned have placed an effectual bar to any hope of probable enterprise. The river is easily navigable for jmall steamers lip to the landing stage —a distance of five miles from the bar —■ and there is a harbour reserve upon which the necessary buildings could be erected. It is regrettable, therefore, that a trifling and easily-remov-able obstacle should be allowed to stand in the way of exploiting the fish-laden waters of the neighbourhood. Men of practical experience in the fishing industry have conducted fishing operations there — though without that success which their enterprise warranted. Nevertheless there is no doubt that a paying industry could be carried on in supplying Masterton and other parts of the Wairarapa with fresh fish of many varieties if the roadway referred to was constructed. We have it on the best authority that the cost of securing and forming a fairly good road between the points mentioned would not exceed £250, and it seems too absurd that the splendid harvest of the estuarine river arid the sea should not be garnered when so little standc in the way. The Government has gone to much expense in experimenting with steam trawlers for the purpose of developing the fishing industry, but here we have a fishing ground at our doors, the merits of which have long been assured. All that is needed is access, and the Government, by acquiring a short roadway . under the Public Works Act, could open these waters at a cost probably less than that of a month's trawling expenditure. There is here an opportunity of supplying a large district with a food at a price that would considerably reduce the cost of living, benefit the health of the community, and add to the profitabe industries of the dominion. Why, we would ask, has the member for the district not exerted himself in this matter? We would suggest to our Chamber of Commerce that this is a subject upon which it 3 influence should be brought to hear at the earliest possible moment.