OYSTERS AND FISH

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21386, 31 January 1935, Page 9

OYSTERS AND FISH

TO TUB IDITOS OT THE PtIBSS. Sir,—l have read with interest the notes in your paper about oysters. Surely we can congratulate the local fish merchants I'ol* the fine attitude tlicy have taken up in forming an association to prevent themselves and the general public from being exploited by what appears to be a combine of oyster catchers. Now is it not • a fact that the Government owns the oyster beds and cultivates them for the benefit of the public, the catchers being allowed to take the oysters under license only, and subject to payment of a small royalty. If this is so, it must be another glaring instance of Government mismanagement if the catchers are suddenly allowed to increase the price by more than 30 per cent. Some few years back the oysters were sold at half the present price, and the sacks were half as big again. Surely the Bluff catchers are satisfied, and have been satisfied in the past without this sudden exploitation. It appears that the public and retailers have been exploited for years, and have not bothered about it, so now that they have taken the matter in hand it is to be hoped they stand to their guns and do not allow themselves to be influenced by local interests or threats, for surely in lighting in the public interest they are also fighting in their own. The newly-formed .association will do well to remember, both in buying

their fish and oysterg, that it has to pay tho wholesaler. Without the support of the association's members he would have to close down. It is entirely in the hands of the association. Now would also probably be a good time lo enquire into the cost of fish, which is undoubtedly too high locally. Perhaps an opposition market formed or supported by the new association would have the desired effect. —Yours, etc., VOX POPULI. January 30, 1935.