Inspection On Chathams

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 12

Inspection On Chathams

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Jan. 30. Everything dates from 8.C., meaning before crayfishing. This was the impression gained by members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Fishing Industry.

The committee arrived back in Wellington by air this

evening after three days gathering evidence and carrying out their own inspection of the situation in the Chatham Islands. During that time they heard evidence from the Chatham Islands County Council, from the local associations, including the Pitt Island fishermen, and from representatives of the fish-packing industry.

Last night the committee received information from those who attended a public meeting at Waitangi. “About 80 Chatham Islanders attended the meeting,” the Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr A. D. Dick) said tonight. “The county chairman said it was one of the largest meetings in Waitangi history.” The submissions to the committee all embodied similar recommendations, Mr Dick said. These were: tighter control, more carefulconservation and further

research into the habits of crayfish. Today the PostmasterGeneral (Mr McCready) and Mr Dick visited Pitt island to investigate harbour development, the provision of post office facilities, and primary production. Mr Dick confirmed that Pitt Island farmers are still killing their sheep because it is impossible to send them to the mainland for sale at a profit. “Agriculture could be brought back in the islands,” he said. “Lime is available, and pasture could be improved greatly, but first we must be sure of a market.” The committee will soon visit Bluff, Dunedin, Nelson, Gisborne and Auckland.

It is charged to report back to Parliament during this session on the crayfish and oyster industries, but Mr Dick doubts that a complete report on the fishing industry as a whole will be available within this time limit.