Opposition Challenges Fishing Proposal

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31378, 25 May 1967, Page 14

Opposition Challenges Fishing Proposal

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 24, The Opposition today challenged the Government to justify its action in considering applications from New Zealand companies for authority to enter into joint fishing activities with Japanese fishing companies. Sir Basil Arthur (Lab., Timarn) claimed that the Government had not the right to

entertain the idea of joint ventures with any country without giving New Zealanders the first right to participate. The issue was brought up in Parliament today when, under the new standing orders, questions already answered in the House and set down on a supplementary order paper, were debated. Sir Basil Arthur said the Fishing Industry Board was nothing but a shell compared with what the Minister - of Marine (Mr Scott) and his colleagues said would be done when the board was established. “A Disgrace” He called it a disgrace that only six fishermen to date had been granted financial assistance for vessels. > Labour believed a public corporation was the answer to assisting development of the fishing industry. The Government should assist the industry before allowing foreigners to exploit New Zealand waters, Sir Basil Arthur said. Mr C. J. Moyle (Lab., Manukau) said he was concerned that the Government should

entertain at all the idea of a partnership with Japan in fishing. Mr Moyle criticised the Government for its failure to encourage the fishing industry in the proper manner, and called on Mr Scott and the Government to make good some of their promises. Mr Scott told the House that if the Government had heeded Opposition attitudes, New Zealand would not be selling mutton to Japan today. Govt. Stand It was a “remarkable thing” that all Labour members were experts on the 12-mile limit. All people associated with the fishing industry were happy with the stand the Government had taken, said Mr Scott. Referring to current Japan-ese-New Zealand talks on the 12-mile limit, the Minister claimed the Opposition’s sole aim was to cause embarrassment during those discussions

He said the fishing industry had had more incentive from the Government, particularly in the past three or four years, than Labour gave in all of its time in office.