N.Z. Fish Trade Slashed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31128, 3 August 1966, Page 3

N.Z. Fish Trade Slashed

C.V.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, August 2.

New Zealand fish imports into Australia have been slashed by 60 to 65 per cent over the last three months because of a vicious price war on the Australian market.

This was said in Sydney today by Mr Alan Churchin, a representative of Gollin and Company, general merchants, which imports large quantities of fish. Mr Churchin said New Zealand fish, especially tarakihi. was selling on the Sydney wholesale market from 10 cents to 12 cents (about N.Z.9jd to lid) a pound more than South African and Japanese hake and English bream.

He said that if present priced were maintained New Zealand would never recover its former share of the Australian market, and predicted that the New Zealand fishing industry would have to be heavily subsidised by the Government if it was to continue to earn overseas exchange. The manager of another' leading firm of fish importers! is in New Zealand at the 1 moment having urgent talks on the situation.

Mr Churchin said South African and Japanese hake was being sold for 20 cents (N.Z.ls 7d) and English bream for 18 cents (N.Z.ls 4d) on the Sydney wholesale market, compared with 30 cents (nearly N.Z.2s sd) being asked for New Zealand tarakihi.

He said that imported fish, other than from New Zealand was subject to a one cent a pound duty. Trade officials in Sydney believe that New Zealand exporters will have to reduce their prices if they want to recapture part of the Sydneymarket, but said that this would probably not prove economical.

New Zealand exported about £N.Z.32,000 worth of fish to Australia in the nine months ending March 31, 1965.

Mr Churchin said imports of New Zealand fish had tumbled since then and added: “No-one can guess how long this will last, but either the competitors’ prices will have to drop—-and I can’t see that happening in the next three to four months—or New Zealand will have to bring her prices down." He said: “For New Zealand. ( fish seems to present the best ( avenue or potential for ex-1 ports to Australia, and if New! Zealand is after export earn-.

ings she may. have to consider some form of subsidy for the fishing industry.”

Australian fishermen are given tax concessions to encourage them to produce more fish, and Mr Churchin said that both British and Japanese fishermen received considerable Government help.