THE WHALING INDUSTRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 6

THE WHALING INDUSTRY.

It is to be hoped that Parliament will devote a little of its spare time this year to the consideration of the whaling industry in the Antarctic Ocean. An interesting article which appeared in our yesterday's issue shows that there are now 40 companies operating in these waters, and that their fleets include 40 "factory ships" and over 200 "chasers." The Norwegian contingent alone employs about 9000 men, and the results secured seem to have fully justified the outlay. One company, Avliose fleet consists of two factory ships and 10 chasers, is said to have killed 4760 whales between 1923 and 1929; and this "catch" produced 400,000 barrels of oil, valued at more than £2,000,000. Naturally such returns have attracted competition. A few months ago there was registered at Sydney an Australian Whaling Development Syndicate, with a capital of £750,000; and one of the inducements held out to investors is the statement that one Norwegian whaler had taken moie than £1,000,000 worth of oil in three cruises. The Australians seem to have taken to heait Sii D. Mawson's admonition, that it is a national duty for them to exploit the wealth of Antarctica. When is New Zealand to follow suit? It is evident that this indiscriminate slaughter of whales must speedily end in then extirpation, and whether that is desirable or not, we consider that our Government should take action in time either to protect the shales or, if that is impossible, to secure for the Dominion a share of the spoil.