CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Star, Issue 18259, 26 April 1923, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

TO TUK EDITOR. Sir,—ln Friday's edition a correspondent has a little- to say about the “so-called” Fishermen's Society. 1 object to the teira applied. Our association is a registered society, and deserves the same respect ad any other association in New Zealand. Anyone wishing to get at the bottom of this fish business or to know why fish is dear should go to Port Chalmers and have a talk with some of the men who risk their all in gaining a living at the game, Tliis controversy through tho paper 'is no use to tho fishermen or the public, as there is always some dirt in it. Tho “so-called” society has as much right to protect its intercuts as the Fanners' and Graziers’ Association. If prices at Burnside do not suit they drive their stock home. Th© fishermen cannot do this, therefor© they have no option but to take what is offered after the demand is satisfied. I am referring to when fish is plentiful, and in many cases it falls back on the auctioneers at their own price. They have a freezer at hand, which Port Chalmers docs not possess. The reasons why the fishermen limit their supply aro simple. Control the supply, and there is a living for every boat. I admit that we have a clerk looking after our interest on tho market, and we act on his advice, and stop when the market is flooded. It is not the fishermen's fult that the public do not get cheap fish. Query: AVhosc fault is it? No matter how the market is, the steam trawlers never stop, because they arc owned or partly owned by the auctioneers and others in the trade. This taio about their not paying and going to bo tied up is an old one—in fact, it is stale. Your correspondent refers to a ring. 1 shall not comment on that, but ask why do the boats go to Dunedin and gel rid of their catches, and come home sold out ? AVhy, because tho market is bad and the- trade has sufficient. Jly opinion is: Alnnicipalise the whole of the fish coming to Dunedin; get your hundreds of hawkers at work; let the council take a hand. What is flic utc of quoting Auckland's municipal loss? (tot to work on tho right lines, erect your market, charge your market rales, encourage commccial distribution, and yon have the problem solved, and tho men who risk their lives getting the fish will be behind you.— I am, etc., A Fisherman. April 24. KMMIWMIWWI