FISH PRICE ORDER

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24603, 27 June 1945, Page 6

FISH PRICE ORDER

ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE MADE TO DAY '

INCREASES PROPOSED BY INDUSTRY

Hie decision of the Goverhmeht aiid , the Price Investigation ’tribunal, after reconsideration of the maximum price orders fixed for fishermen, and fish wholesalers and retailers In Canterbury, is expected to be announced today, Since the orders 'were fixed to operate as from June 4, Canterbury, with the exception of hospitals, has been without fish supplies, all retail shops having been closed for the last three weeks. Proposals placed by the three branches of the fishing industry before the investigators for the Price Tribunal at conferences held in Christchurch towards the end of last week wert that prices should be fixed at levels "Cpresenting advances of from 13 to 33 per cent, on the 1937 prices to consumers. The industry submitted to the Price Tribunal officials that the price orders represented a decline of from 13 to 33 per cent on 1937 prices, and that fishermen could not economically operate at the prices fixed. The submission of the trade Was that the new prices suggested would represent 1939 prices, without taking into consideration an advance of 25 per cent on 1339 costs which could be reasonably asked. . The question of the effect on the consuming public of the proposals placed by the fishing industry before the Price Tribunal officials was referred to Mr P, W. Sim, who has represented the retailers in the negotiations. He said that if they were adopted by the Price Tribunal, the public would obtain fish at from fid to Sd per lb cheaper than it had been Obtaining supplies for the last two years. Fishing boats at all Canterbury ports' were prepared to go to sea to make catches at the prices suggested by the trade, Mr Sira said; but the suggestion that the price orders should be Suspended to allow that to be doile, pending a final decision by the tribunal, had been ignored. ‘ A table showing the range of prices for the six months ended November 19, 1937, in Christchurch—prides on which the industry proposes an increase, of from 13 to 83 per cent. —WaS published as an appendix in the report of the Sea Fisheries Investigation Committee. It was;— Groper.—Whole (headed and gutted), fid to lOd per lb; piece, 9d to Is 3d; filleted, lOd to Is fid. Ling.—Whole (headed and sounded), 3d to fid per lb; piece, 3d to 9d; filleted,. fid to Is; smoked. 8d to Is. Soles.—Whole, 3d to IS 3d per lb (all sizes), piece, fid to Is 4d; filleted, Is 3d to 2s fid. Gurnard.—Whole (heads on), 3d to fid per jb; piece (trimmed, no head), fid to fid; filleted, fid to Is; smoked, fid to Is. Red Cod.—Whole (headed), 3d to fid per lb; piece, 5d to fid; filleted, fid to 10d: smoked, 7d to lOd. Elephant Fish.—Whole, 4d to fid per lb; piece, 4d to fid; filleted, 4<* to Is; smoked (only when plentiful), fid. Tarakihi. —Whole (heads on), 5d to 7d per, lb; piece, 7d to lOd; filleted, lOd to Is 2d; smoked. 10d to Is 4d. Flounders.—Whole, 7d to Is fid pet lb; piece, lOd to' Is 4d; filleted. Is to 2s fid. Commenting on the ‘‘interest and no doubt concern’* in Christchurch over the range of prices, the Sea Fisheries Investigation Committee reported: “There is frequently a fluctuation in any one Week from the lowest to the highest price, and, this being so, there -must naturally be a discouragement on the part of the public to buy fish with any semblance of regularity. Retailers contend, and the committee supports the contention, that if there were a continuity of supply of fish at an even price over the whole year, there would be a considerable increase ill tuntovef aU round. The ttSy stoureaa even price ip by tom method of fixe* tion 6f the wholesale price.”