OUR FISH SUPPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 68, 20 March 1915, Page 9

OUR FISH SUPPLY.

FTSTTETtypy tSTAHT HIGHER -~.._ PRTCES, ~,-., AHB BETTER HEAHS OF "■" DISTRIBUTIOK. MAYOR JMXES ' BTJGGS&QOBB. DRASTJC INNOYATIO?fS: LEKELYi 'Representatives of the Fishermen's Union waited upon the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) this morning to lay. before him suggestions for the Better, co-operation of the fishermen and the City Council in connection with; the -municipal scheme' for the distribution, of fresh, fish. Mr. Carden, secretary of the union, placed before the Mayor a scheme of proposed charges, which, they suggested, aitould be paid to--fishermen for fish. The charges in question show-, somes,, increaseon the existing prices. They also asked that tne Council should.provide cartage facilities for those fishermen who brought fish in. at night. .A further suggestion was* tnat-.no. time, should be lost in-dredging.in front of the'present fish market, as at low tide ifr-wan impossible at present for deep-keeled fishing boatsto get in. The Mayor replied that the present market had been, tried on a small scale as an experiment. The Council were, however, so satisfied with the success of the experiment that they would at an early date go in for.a more complete and larger echeme. '.While being unable to disclose the contents of Mr. Bieden's report, which would come before the Council next week, he was at liberty to say that Mr. Breden was making some drastic suggestions with regard to the improvement of the fish business in Auckland.. One thing, said Mr. Parr, was absolutely necessary, and the Council would provide it as soon as possible. He referred to the desirableness of a large cool chamber so that ample storage could he furnished for fish. This would be erected in conjunction wjth the fruit market adjoining, and would have-separate accommodation for fruit and fish. -, As regard prices the policy of the Council wae to get the fish to the consumer at as low a figure as possible. At the same time they desired that fishermen should get a fair price for their goods. He asked' them to meet the Finance Committee on Friday evening next and discuss the matter of prices with them. ■ ' ■ "*- ■ The fishermen were agreed that nowadays it was almost impossible to catch fish inshore, as of old. They had to go. far afield, increasing the expense and time in bringing the fish to market; The Mayor suggested as a way out of. the difficulty that the Council might. provide carriage for the fish from, some central depot such as Kawau. By such a procedure there would be two distinct gains—first, the time now occupied by the fishermen in beating up to often in the face of adverse weather, would be saved i secondly, the LCotincil would receive the fish in large quantities and could therefore more easily distribute it than in small parcels.as at present. . . . ~ A further suggestion made by the union was that the Council should open up retail distributing shops. Regarding this proposal the Mayor recommended them to bring it before the.Pjqajuje 'mittee alpng'fwith the other matters, -~