Minister Considers Oyster Exports

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 1

Minister Considers Oyster Exports

The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) is said to be considering export of processed oysters up to 25 per cent of a wholesaler’s output with an extension to 50 per cent depending on demand. One of the purposes would be to maintain employment in the industry.

The secretary of the Canterbury Wholesale Oyster Workers’ Union (Mr L. Lee) said this was the outcome of special talks he had recently in Wellington with Mr Scott.

Mr Lee said that he had met the Minister in an attempt to obtain relief for his union members who were becoming redundant as the victims of price-cutting. In the fight among the employers, said Mr Lee, nine members of his union had been dismissed because of orders lost through undercutting prices. One new oyster wholesaler in Christchurch employing seven men and women had been forced to close. Mr Lee said that the Minister also was prepared, if necessary, to intervene in price-cutting in Southland and to take the steps required to bring stability. This was provided he found that the workers were suffering from the price-cut-ting activities. Mr Lee said that only one oyster wholesaler in Canterbury had fought to stabilise the industry. Although Christchurch retailers were obtaining their oysters 3c a dozen cheaper this year than they were last, with very few exceptions they had not been passing the reduction on to the public. CHRISTCHURCH PRICE Oysters in Christchurch were still selling at 25c a dozen, said Mr Lee. “This means that the retailers are making another 2c to 3c a dozen without any extra cost to themselves or to the trade.” Mr Lee said that a meeting was held in Christchurch on Wednesday evening to discuss employment in the industry. Until Mr Scott took the action he was considering the

terbury and northern areas at what would appear to be almost cost—l7c to 18c opened. Because of the extra freight costs involved in getting oysters to the Canterbury sheds, the Christchurch wholesalers were finding it impossible to meet the new figure of 18c a dozen and, in at least one case, a price understood to be 17c.

future of the industry in Canterbury was in jeopardy. The situation bad arisen because of the price war between two or three big wholesale oyster distributors in Southland. They were landing opened oysters in Can-