Satisfied With Toheroa Inquiry

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30511, 5 August 1964, Page 3

Satisfied With Toheroa Inquiry

(Neto Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 4. The District Inspector of Fisheries in Auckland (Mr F. E. French) said he asked the Kaitaia police to inquire into reports of rotting toheroa being left on the beach.

“1 have been informed it is mostly empty shells. There were about half-a-dozen toheroa on top of the heap. "My inquiry is complete. 1 can quite believe the smells were offensive, but I think the whole thing has been greatly exaggerated,” he said. A report said a large quantity of rotting toheroa had been found at a secluded spot among gorse on the property of Northland Canneries, Ltd., leasees of the portion of the Ninety Mile Beach which is open for commercial digging.

Mr French asked C. G. Maeindoe Proprietary, Ltd., of Auckland, to inquire why its subsidiary did not process the toheroa.

They were reported to be at the eastern end of the property on the shores of Wood Lake, a small pond between the North road and Lake Ngatu, where the company has its factory. Complaints were made in Kaitaia yesterday and this morning an honorary fisheries inspector, Mr W. E. Dyer, visited the scene. He later got in touch with the police in Kaitaia who telephoned Mr French. Last week the cannery manager (Mr R. G. Rule) said diggers had produced 150

cases, although he had only asked for 100.

He had ordered digging to stop for this reason and because the toheroa were not in good condition. Constable M. D. Anderson, of Kaitaia, said this afternoon he had inspected the heap of toheroa and had been told by Mr Rule that the tongues had been taken before the shellfish were discarded. Mr Rule said rain fell on the consignment making it necessary to handle them immediately before they spoiled and it was not possible to take all the meat.

Export Fish Inspection

(N Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 4. The law requiring the inspection of premises where meat is processed or packed for export is to be extended to cover fish, including shellfish.

A Meat Bill, introduced in Parliament today, provides for regulations to cover export fish inspection and for the certification of such fish.