"COMPULSION" IN SALE OF FISH

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1922, Page 8

"COMPULSION" IN SALE OF FISH

— fTo the Edttori Sir, —I notice that a member of the City Council seriously proposed that fishermen should be registered and an undertaking given that all their catches should be disposed of by auction or otherwise through the market. In addition to a charge for registration to cover the "cost" of the job at the Town Hall in the way of stationery and clerical work, I suppose the council would next appoint an auctioneer at a big salary or perhaps a ten per cent, commission, and all must necessarilx be extracted from the consumers of fish. It is safe to say that, every "restriction" put on "free trading" tends to limit production, as you cannot extract a shilling from the consumer if he is only possessed of ninepence. The majority of people are always plucked pretty bare at all times. I really cannot sec any just reason why the "producer" of fish should be singled out for registration and taxation by the City Council, when producers of other commodities are not interfered with. The producers of potatoes, onions, eggs, vegetables, etc., are allowed to do what they please with their products without molestation, and 1 demand the same privilege for the line and net fishermen who have started to form a settlement on Rakino Island, and after Devonport is supplied will have to fall back on Auckland for a market for their products. These men will demand "free" access to the city and the right to sell their fish fret from any "compulsion" to sell by auction, although they would appreciate the concession to be allowed to auction their own fish in any shed provided by the council or Harbour Board for, the purpose. The State already registers fishing boats, and the Marine Department has the power to put men out of the boats, or rather refuse the license to fish unless the fisherman can produce a good character from the local police department. This was done on account of so many very low class men getting into the fishing trade, and settlers along the coast could call nothing their own while the drunken thieves were about. This class of men are now either dead or at some other call- i ing. Surely there can be no necessity | at present for both State and council j to register the men on the boats. The I cursed trouble is that councillors, like ] many other people, when they get a j little power over others, are continu- I ally grasping for more power to enslave the people. I consider that the Harbour Board is the proper local authority to provide a shed for the sale of fish when required, as that body of men are altogether superior—and always have been—to any body of City Councillors. The "State" is taking care" that the fish supply for the people is not "taxed" by Harbour Boards, and fishing vessels are now exempt from harbour dues. This all tends to keep down the price of fish by encouraging free and open "competition* in all branches of the trade. City Councils are a curse to humanitymore especially to the ratepayers. If this "compulsion" and taxation is { adopted, T shall put a tinning plant on Rakino and send all the fish away smoked and packed in tins, which will tend to make fish scarce and dear in Auckland.—=T am, etc.. A. SAXFORD.