FISH SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 5, 1 October 1917, Page 7

FISH SUPPLIES

"WANT OF ORGANISATION"

BOARD OF TRADE'S INQUIRIES

"Tho board made preliminary inquiries into tho conduct of the fish industry at Dunedin; Port Chalmers, Napier, Wellington, and Auckland," says the Board of Trade in its annual report. "It was apparent from the evidence taken that the industry is capable of great development: at present,. with perhaps the exception of Auckland, thero is a want of organisation and system, and grievances are rife from tho fisherman right down to the consumer. The only municipal scheme, in New Zealand for supplying consumers with fish is that undertaken by tho Auckland City Connoil. The board noted with considerable satisfaction the success that attended the council's enterprise in trawling and marketing its own iish. A well-organised private company of long standing, following np-to-date methods, also competes in the Auckland trade, 'and as a result of this competition the consumers of Auckland are able, to puroliase fish at a comparatively low price; the consumption of fish per head of population being greater than in any other centre in New Zealand. Auckland is gradually building up a largo and lucrative trade in fish outside the city itself, and if the catches can be increased the markets can be further extended.

"At the request of the board the municipal authorities of Auckland supplied the Borough Council of Taumarunm with fish during last autumn, and, as the latter authority sold the- fish Jo the general public immediately on its arrival and without adding any other cost but expenses of transit, the consumers were able to purchase fresh fish lit an average of 3d. per pound, and smoked fish at 4d. per pound. Unfortunately, owing to bad weather conditions at Auckland, tho supply was not maintainable for a very long period, bnt it is expected that with good weather conditions the schema will be gone on with, and tho board hopes to elToet similar arruugemonts in,towns adjacent to the railway line in the Auckland Province.

"The inquiries of tlio hoard regarding the industry generally are not yet completed. The Auckland enterprises are undoubtedly run on proper business line 3, but it must bo remembere(l that Auckland lis favoured by apparently inexhaustible supplies of fish procurable within weather-protected waters and within easy steaming distance. The provision of cirnp lush to tho consumers of New Zealand generally is dependent upon a. large expenditure of capital on purchase of suitable equipment—trawlers, cool storage, insulated transport—and during the war period it is hopeless to expect that the necessary capital lo this equipment call be secured."