HINT OF FISH PRICE RISE

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 2

HINT OF FISH PRICE RISE

WELLINGTON. January 8. The Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Adams-Schneider) favours a rise in fish prices to allow the fishing industry to cover increased costs. He said today that he would seek Cabinet authority to amend the fish price-freeze regulations to take account of rhe increased costs. Consideration was given just before Christmas to a proposal that fish he removed from price control. “It was decided that, although controls on fish prices should be maintained, the industry should be allowed to recover proven increased costs as quickly as possible,’’ said Mr AdamsSchneider The Department of Trade and Industry was completing an analvsis of increased costs faced by the industry, including the recent fuel price rise. A report would be available

| Wellington fishermen have announced that they will not] supply fish to the Wellington! market from next Thursday* > in protect against the price-! . control measures they work! * under. | ■ Mr Adams-Schneider said i.that. in the circumstances, he; • saw little reason for the 1 |! fishermen to continue with their threat A price freeze was placed on the fishing industry early• i in 1973. and in March. 1974/ a price order system was; ! introduced. The orders 1 system covers the five most, popular species in each area.} ' The general manager of the i Fishing Industry Board (Mr: I J. Campbell) said today that the board estimated the • industry's costs would have i risen 54 per cent from March., ■ 1974. by December 26 of this! t year. i "I don’t know of any s industry that has been re- - quired to absorb costs of that order.” Mr Campbell said. t He thought price controls i should be abandoned. The - machinery was very cumber- - some: it was so complicated . that it was impossible to e explain to anyone, let alone administer it.