WELLINGTON FISHERMEN IN DIFFICULTIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 8, 4 October 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON FISHERMEN IN DIFFICULTIES

Sir—l recently 'read in your columns of Government assistance to .fishermen and encouraging the 'fishing industry in tho Auckland district. I am outlining the kind of treatment Wellington fishermen havetto submit to. 'Wellington city depends to a great extent on the Island Bay fishermen for its fresh fish supply. The City Council control the foreshore .around the bay, possibly the beaches, and the Deserves Committee deal with this. However, they seemingly havo no power, or do not want to help or encourage fishermen or tho fishing industry. House accommodation is practically impossible to secure unless one is in a position to. buy a property, which, with the ruling high prices, is not within everyone's means: therefore, a. number of fishermen cannot get a house in Island Bay or even.a shed in which their gear, etc., could bo stowed. Fishermen cannot carry all their gear in their boats, as different classes of .nets, etc., >are required for the various fish which may happen to be in season; yet. all the gear must be near at hnnd. The exorbitant prices of all fishing material necessitates careful drying and stowing. Somq fishermen labouring under these conditions placed on the rocks, (at the south-west side, known as the' crock) neatly constructed boxes in which spare gear, sea boots, and other wearing; apparel could bo safely kept. Coming ashore at all hours of the night or morning to men living at a distance theso boxes were practically indispensable.. Someone evidently complained, and in due course the council's inspector came out summoning tho fishermen to remove tho boxes, the alternative being appearing in the Law- Courts. All kinds of applications have been.made without success. . Island Bay fori the past thirty years has been a fishing station, yet no facility has been granted to the* fishermen. Sport seems to get preference to industry with the City Council, as a newlyhorn surf club:can get assistance with the building of diving pier and' club shed at Wand Bay, and pleasure fishers are . given permission to build on, onother beach the council enntro's. The writer raises no nrotest against .the surf club getting facilities, etc., and only mentions the matter in comparing what sporting bodies get. • Yet fishermen are told the council cannot give them permission to ( place on tho rocks, a box in which their wParimr.. apparel, may •■he safely kept.. _ Air. Massey., stated, ..when ji recent fishing renort was before' the House, that he had asked local I'od'es to do all in their power to help fishermen. ' The Wellington City "Council ffpnunjfly are not carrying out the Prime Minister's wish. Form" the Government assist IV council in assKiuj' the Wellington fishing industry,—l am, etc.. J. C. SMITH.