‘No Encouragement For Eel Exports”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 12

‘No Encouragement For Eel Exports”

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, February 26.

The Government could be earning valuable overseas funds if it would give more encouragement to the export of eels, says a Tekauwhata eel processor and exporter, Mr H. Teklenburg.

Mr Teklenburg. a Dutchman who has been in the business for 50 years, said the Government had given the industry no encouragement. He has developed markets throughout Europe, North America, Australia and the East for frozen and smoked eC He does not sell the fish in New Zealand “because the Government will not help to push them and because the people seem to have something against eating eel.” “Industry Curtailed” Mr Teklenburg claimed that any attempt by the Marine Department to assist the industry was curtailed by the Acclimatisation Society—“an autonomous body which more or less rules the department." “We could get £50,000 to £60,000 a year for eels in

overseas funds, given the chance,” Mr Teklenburg said. “Instead the society is just destroying them.” He said the overseas potential was unlimited, as eel was regarded as a great delicacy in most countries.

“Real Success"

“New Zealand has everything needed to establish the industry,” he said. “It could be made a real success, but it is not allowed to be.” Mr Teklenburg, who last year exported more eels than all the other processors together in the country, said he had wanted to build a factory to can the fish, but his request had been declined.