THE FISH SUPPLY

Evening Star, Issue 16195, 17 August 1916, Page 2

THE FISH SUPPLY

POSITION IN ' CHEISTCHUKCH.

[Special to the <Stae.'] CHBISTCrTDRCH. August 17. Considerable discussion has been taking place recently in Dunedin as to the supply and distribution of fish, and in particular as to its cost to the consumer as compared with the other cities of the Dominion. It has been alleged by interested persons who replied to your editorial comments that though Christ' church has a supply direct from the fishermen, yet the retail price is dearer than, that obtaining in Dunedin. In regard to fish markets, it is stated that " as for Christchurch, the men who started the present scheme there are sorry for it."

The position of affairs thus stated is, however, calculated to give a somewhat erroneous impression. It is true that until comparatively recently the price of fresh fish was high. This, however, was not attributable to the actual establishment of,a fish market, which in Wellington the above-mentioned contributes describe as a huge failure, but to the fact that the market here was more or less controlled by a "ring" of retailers, who worked together to keep their own buying price down and the selling price up. Now, however, this " ring" has been broken by the advent of two or three retail establishments run by men who own trawlers or who obtain their supply direct from the trawlers, thus establishing a i healthy competition. At the present time these shops are retailing fish at prices at least 50 per cent, cheaper than at the corresponding period of last year. This figuro is vouched for by the City Council inspectors. Until the ''ring" is entirely broken, however, and uniformity of price is established, the real economic value of the existing fish market will not be realised by the consumer. The good housekeeper will naturally buy as cheaply as possible, all else being equal, and therefore the demand on the newly-established 6hop is equal to, if not greater than, the supply, thus avoiding a glut of fish. When, however, prices are more uniform the market will become necessary to all, as the demand by consumers will be more evenly distributed among retailers, necessitating a centralisation of properly-cooled stocks. At the present moment the new shops are receiving erratic supplies. Thus one day five tons may be consigned either from Lyttelton or Kaikoura, as the case may be, and the next day 10 tons may be received. Prices being uniform, this would result in considerable waste, and hence the value of a central market which supplies the exact demands, as far as possible, of the retailers. The fish trade is undoubtedly far better left in the hands of the retailers, provided that they are not strong enough to combine and dominate tho market. It is understood that when this state of affairs existed in this city a 'short while back largo quantities of fish had to be destroyed on account of the refusal of the "ring" to buy and be forced to sell at low prices. Consequently the fishermen 1 themselves refused to maintain the' supply, and worked only two or three days in the week. Naturally it paid them better.

Another large retailer in this citv, who was not a member of tho "ring," though buying from the market, has reduced his price to afford a minimum of profit, relying entirely on his turnover. Needless to say, he has not suffered.

it has been suggested that a municipal market should be established by the City Council, with the necessary ice'plant, and every facility for smoking and storing fish. In reply to this, however, 'it is pointed out that such a scheme would be unsuccessful from the commencement, for the simple reason that no control of supplies from the trawlers could bo effected, unless, of course, powers were conferred on the council to enable them to commandeer supplies, thus preventing the establishment of a competitive market. A municipal fish market was tried in >Sydney, but involved the loss of several thousand pounds, and in order to put it on a financially sound basis trawlers had to be purchased and worked in conjunction with the market. The scheme is now fairly successful. A far better suggestion, however, is the establishment of a co-operative institution, in wliich the supply would be certain, and consumers' prices kept on the lowest possible level. Though people in other centres seem to think that prices in this citv are high, it is contrary to fact. Fish here is as cheap, if not cheaper, than in any other centre, and, owing to the splitting up of the "ring," will doubtless be reduced still further in tho near future.