SUPPLY OF FISH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 76, 27 September 1944, Page 7

SUPPLY OF FISH

. HIGH PRICES CHARGED

EXAMINATION ORDERED

"In Christchurch yesterday I heard of some extraordinary cases of high prices being charged for fish, and I have given instructions for some one to "be sent down to make an immediate examination of the position," said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr. Sullivan) in the House of Representatives yesterday when referring to fish supplies.

The Minister said that the main trouble regarding supplies and prices of fish had been caused through so many trawlers being taken by the naval authorities. A few, were being released, but: there was a long way to go before the fishing fleet was restored. When more trawlers became available and fish supplies were increased then 4he main trouble would be over.

Referring to the system of licensing fishermen, Mr. Sulliyan, admitted that so far as administration was concerned it- had been one of the most difficult things he had had to deal with. Nevertheless the" situation of the industry was substantially better than for many years. He hoped that as supplies of fish became more plentiful the public would be as satisfied as the industry.

Mr. W. Sullivan (National, Bay of Plenty), who raised the question of fish during the" discussion on the Inr dustries and Commerce Estimates, asked whether steps would be taken to ensure larger and cheaper supplies throughout the Dominion. He contended that the system of licensing was not entirely satisfactory and inquired how many applications for licences had been declined. On the subject of exports he asked what type of fish was being sent'abroad. The Minister said he could not say how many licences had been declined, but 1530 had been granted. The exports were mainly blue cod. \ Mr. W. Sullivan: The industry is doing well, but what about the position 'of the consumer? , RETURN OF TRAWLERS. The Minister repeated that some trawlers were coming back from the Navy, and when more vessels were working in the industry it was hoped that the difficulties would be eliminated. Mr. J. Thorn (Government, Thames) quoted production figures to demonstrate that, the annual yields from the fishing beds had-been reduced during the war to the extent of 12 to 13 per cent. Fish was still being exported, but the amount had gone down in the .war period by 60 per cent., and muchXof the fish was of the rougher quality. He realised there had been complaints in Christchurch regarding high prices, but the price there was determined by auction. Where mass purchasing power was so; high, and an auction system prevailed,, high prices were bound to result. He asked the Opposition to say whether' they, were prepared. to, abolish the auction system. •'•. :T: -O Mr. Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru):. It would do away with ' a monopoly. ' ' ' ;■•" A/complaint that there were too ; many regulations-in respect to the fish- . ing industry was made by Mr. A. J. Murdoch (National, Marsden). Trawl-:-.ingiri- fivers' and harbours was de-. /pleting the supply and killing the young fish, lie" said. • At one time the Dominion was $ble to can fish for export, but that could not be done with success now. •,Experts should be instructed to examine the position with a view to devising a 4 scheme for pro- . vidinga better arid.cheaper supply. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) advocated a close season for snapper. Fish was a valuable food supply and ,'every measure should be . taken to safeguard the supply. By the :sale ofj snapper roes in the past many millions of potential- fish had been lost to the people. Mr., H.. T. Morton (National, Waitemata) said he did not see why New Zealand should go on exporting blue cod ; and other fish to Australia. He ;. quoted a case of a man who was recently • refused a licence tp fish with hand-lines from his own launch. Fish had never before been so high in price,, and..ibig ; fish monopolies were 1 wielding far "too much •irifluenc&at the expense of the small man. He advocated the issue of temporary licences for catching fish during the war period, ::;,, . : useof :£eine nets. ; - At present the people of New Zealand were consuming a greater proportion of; fish caught in Dominion waters than at any time in the past 10 or 12 years, said Mr. Thorn. Last ■year the quantity of blue cod exported "was less than .one-quarter of the total -weight of exports. The report of the .Fisheries Commission of 1938 had proposed drastic restrictions in the use of seine nets with a view to conservation ~ of fishing..beds, but it had to be remembered that up to £250,000 was invested in the seine fishing industry operating from Auckland and there was a very large number of men concerned in-it. To put the seine fishing , fleet out. of action would entail a great loss of capital and create a great deal of unemployment. Mr. P. Carr (Government, Auckland West) said he though it was high time that regulations-were brought down compelling. the v cleaning of fish when it was caught instead of leaving it for days, which meant that-a substantial - part was .not usable. . Mr. W Sulliyan questioned why fish to the-value of approximately £98,000 was exported last year when it was in such short supply to New Zealand consumers. . The Member for Thames had given the House to understand that fish of an inferior quality was' 'being exported, but of the total of 12,886 cwt exported last year 30 per cent; was blue cod. From the viewpoint of the outer and smaller districts he would say without hesitation that the wholesale licensing system now in operation precluded the public getting a fair supply. - HELP TO AUSTRALIA. "; The Minister said there had been a good deal of give and take and reciprocal helpfulness between Australia and New Zealand during the war. Australia had'made-articles available to the -Dominion when she was very tightly jammed herself. New Zealand, in turn, had done the same thing for Australia, and fish was one of the commodities troubling the Commonwealth very much. Persistent appeals had been made by Australia, and the Dominion, in that same spirit of helpfulness, had made some.fish available. The only solution to the~problem was to'get the trawlers going again and to catch more fish. - He could not see how the regulations could prevent fish , coming on. to the market. * The Minister said he would be prepared to examine any suggestion of a helpful nature, and he thought the prices being charged throughout the ' country needed very thorough examination. ■ Mr. C. M. Williams (Government, "Kaiapoi) said that the main reason fish was so dear in Christchurch was that private enterprise had reached its . culmination of perfection there in that fish was auctioned. It would be bad business for the fishermen to produce plenty of fish for the price would be low. If the price was fixed at a reasonable figure the fishermen would be relieved of the fear of producing more than the market would absorb and there would be more fish available. ./Fishermen today were deliberately restricting their catches, knowing that if they supplied an abundance there would be low - prices. Competition definitely had the effect of reducing production. >The Minister should carry- control a little further and control the price in Christchurch, and the , result would be a better supply.