COMPANY REPLIES TO FISHERMEN

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28700, 25 September 1958, Page 7

COMPANY REPLIES TO FISHERMEN

“No Improvement In Australia”

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, Sept. 24. Any one of the larger trawlers fishing out of Port Nelson could meet the requirements of the local market, and the catches of the remaining 15 vessels would have to be disposed of through other sources, said Nelson Fisheries and Cool Storage, Ltd., the firm concerned in the Nelson fishing dispute, in a statement today. The company gave no indication that it would meet the demands of Nelson fishermen for a higher price for catches, following the announcement of a move by the fishermen yesterday to establish an open market. The 16 vessels of the Nelson fishing fleet have remained in port. The statement said that more than 26A tons of fish were held in cool storage, and that no improvement on the Australian market could be expected before the new year. Reduced prices for fish to the public had resulted in an increase of 25 per cent, in local sales.

“The position in Australia shows no improvement.” the company’s statement said, “There seems no likelihood of any increase in the demand for snapper and gurnard on that market before the new year.

“Nelson Fisheries is holding stocks for which the fishermen have been paid the highest prices. These stocks consist of more than 7000 cases, the eventual sale of which is doubtful, and in any event the prices ruling in Australia will mean a certain loss to the company. “In the last two seasons the intake of snapper and gurnard has been the equal of three normal seasons/ due to increased catching power. This was assisted by Nelson Fisheries pursuing their policy of providing finance for better boats and better handling facilities. The high prices paid over the last two years have priced our product off the Australian market, and it is feared that the same position could arise on the New Zealand market,” the statement said.