Fishing Estimate Held Inadequate

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30479, 29 June 1964, Page 3

Fishing Estimate Held Inadequate

(New Zealand Press Association)

GISBORNE, June 28.

Dissatisfaction with the £5OOO provided in the Estimates as the initial provision towards the cost of establishing the Fishing Industry Board and its operating expenses was expressed by the manager of Watties Canneries, Ltd., Gisborne, Mr G. J. Wattie, today.

“This is a very smal amount to handle something as big as the fishing industry and the fishing industry board is important to the in : dustry,” said Mr Wattie. “If this is indicative of the amount the Government is prepared to spend on the fishing industry,” he said, “the sooner we take advantage of offers made by the two biggest tuna fishing organisations in Formosa, the'better.”

Mr Wattie said that the Formosan organisations had made an offer to teach New Zealanders to catch tuna.

“These people are prepared to supply a boat and an experienced crew to train New Zealanders to fish for tuna. All they require is stores, supplies and a base.

11 “We would be foolish not to accept their offer,” he said. The standing director of the Kaohsiung Fisheries Association, Mr Chai Fan-Tai, had said that if the association would obtain permission to refuel and provision ships it would sell fish at the average international market price. Last year it was 280 United States dollars a ton. This year it was 300 to 320 United States dollars a ton.