The Press SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1963. The Fishing Industry

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30230, 7 September 1963, Page 10

The Press SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1963. The Fishing Industry

The reproach that New Zealand is the only country in the world not to recognise the importance of a fishing industry should be removed by draft legislation presented to Parliament, The Fisheries Amendment Bill proposes to check monopolistic tendencies by abolishing the licensing procedure and substituting a system of permits and registration which, liberally administered, should be much less restrictive. Another important provision would keep control of the fishing industry in New Zealand hands. The bill also has useful provisions for policing fishing. The second bill, the Fishing Industry Board Bill, is the more important, since it provides a framework for expansion of the industry and for guiding it along sound lines. Because it found the separate elements in the industry—fishermen, wholesalers, and retailers “ could never “ reach agreement on “ issues ”, the Parliamentary Select Committee recommended there should not be a majority of industry representatives on the development board -proposed by the committee. The Minister of Marine (Mr Gerard) has accepted this recommendation. Each element in the industry is to have a member on the board: in addition there will be four appointed members, none of whom is to have a financial

interest in the industry. By this, the Minister will both give the industry muchneeded new blood and encourage an objective view of the industry’s problems. The board will concern itself with the domestic market for fish, where restrictive practices in various forms have discouraged expansion and pushed up costs, and with promoting exports and safeguarding quality. The board’s own expenses will be covered in the first year by a grant of up to £50.000; but the board’s more important financial equipment is provided by authority to the Minister of Finance to lend money to the board or guarantee loans raised by it.

A clause in the Fisheries Amendment Bill empowering the Minister to carry out fisheries research and investigation might more properly belong to the Fishing Industry Board Bill, for promotion of the fishing industry must depend largely upon research, which has been woefully lacking. It would be better, therefore, to have research directed by the body charged with promoting expansion. We hope the Government intends to be liberal, because the fishing industry should give a handsome return on investment. Between paper and practice there is a wide gap; but the two bills unquestionably offer promise of better use of our neglected resources.