H.—44a.

132. That the Napier Harbour Board be asked to provide a suitable channel to the slipway navigable by any of the fishing-vessels under their own power from three-quarters flood to threequarters ebb tide. 133. That cheaper slip accommodation be provided. If the Harbour Board is unable to finance such a slip, Government assistance should be made available to any co-operative group of fishermen willing to organize and administer a co-operative slip for the benefit of fishing-vessels only. 134. That the Government urge the Harbour Board to give some easement of wharfage rates. The most useful form that this relief could take would be the exemption of fuel—oil or coal—going aboard fishing-vessels from outward wharfage, and the reduction of the inward wharfage on fish. Auckland. 135. That the Auckland Harbour Board be approached to ascertain if it is not possible to provide better berthage accommodation for the seine boats inside the Viaduct. 136. That the Auckland Harbour Board be requested to consider the provision of fender piles at those berths used by the steam trawlers. Helensville. 137. That the Government approve the scheme set out for the rehabilitation of the fishermen's wharf at Helensville as submitted by the District Engineer of the Public Works Department. (For detail, see files P.W. 12/1 and M. 4/277.) 138. That the wharf as reconstructed be vested in the Helensville Town Board, which body should make some small contribution tQ the cost. 139. That if the reconstruction is carried out the fishermen using the port should be compelled to use this wharf for all purposes except possibly the landing of their fish, which is at present done at the Railway wharf for convenience of transport, and they should pay a charge not exceeding £1 ss. per boat per annum for the use of the facilities provided. New Plymouth. 140. That the New Plymouth Harbour Board be approached to ascertain the possibility of improving the facilities available to the fishermen, more particularly with regard to satisfactory berthage, landing facilities, water-supply, and the provision of a slip. An annual charge to be made for the harbour facilities and a charge of £1 per time for the use of the slip. Kawhia. 141. That the Government give favourable consideration to the request for the erection of permanent leading-lights at Kawhia. Waitara. 142. That, if possible, arrangements be made for the erection and maintenance of a light oil the North Wall at Waitara. Wellington (Island Bay). 143. That either the Government or the City Council embark on a comprehensive scheme to provide proper and reasonable facilities for the fishermen at Island Bay, such facilities to be on that area known as the " Eastern Rocks," and, inter alia, to consider the provision of berthage for large fishing-vessels and accommodation for the refrigerated storage of bait. Refrigeration. New Zealand. 144. That the provision of adequate cold storage capable of freezing the fish in a reasonable time be made an essential qualification for those firms desiring to hold a fish-export license. 145. That all premises used for the refrigeration of fish or as pre-coolers be subject to regular inspection by qualified officers of the Health Department, more particularly with regard to the state of the freezing-chambers. 146. That, as the cost of freezing decreases in proportion to the quantity of fish handled, duplication of freezing units in any town be avoided. To avoid the cornering of freezing-space in any port by the wholesale firms, co-operative concerns with a personnel representative of the fishermen, wholesalers, and retailers should be encouraged. 147. Refrigeration plants should not be controlled by fish-auctioneering firms. Nelson. 148. That the Maitland Cool Stores be approached, with a view to their making sufficient space available for the Nelson fishermen desiring to hold their own fish or bait. Picton. 149. That, if a sufficient number of the Picton fishermen agree to co-operatively guarantee the repayment of any advance made to them by the Government, they should receive the necessary finance from the Government, on the understanding that any fisherman, whether one of the guarantors or not, should have the right to store his fish or bait in the freezer at rates sufficient to cover the cost of operation, the repayment of the loan, and any other charges. An allocation of space would have to be made to prevent any one person or group from monopolizing the chambers.

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