FISHING INDUSTRY

Evening Star, Issue 19942, 11 August 1928, Page 2

FISHING INDUSTRY

FURTHER REPLY TO MR MINHOCK Mi’ Anderson writes: It is with interest that I read Mr Minnock’s feeble reply to the true facts previously supplied through your columns. Mr Minnoek has not informed the public that the three largest buyers ol fish market are not members of the Fishmongers’ Association, and neither did ho tell the - public why; and also the fact that these particular buyers, Tike myself, recognise that no good purpose is being served by this paper controversy. Mr Minnock has not been long >u the dominion, but desires to assume the position of dictator to the Fishmongers’ Association and also the fishermen. The fishermen do not interfere with the fishmongers as to how they should muduct their business, and neither do wo want Mr Minnock to suggest to tho colonial fishermen how they should run theirs. If wo had the population of the Old Country to teed we could not catch enough fish, and trade, railway, and general facilities would be arranged accordingly. When Mi Minnock has been long enough in our happy little dominion he will understand colonials bolter, and probably realise he has not all the wisdom and knowledge appertaining to tho catching and distribution of fish as it applies throughout the dominion, where at times nearly every port, large and small, has its regular supplies from its own fleets, operating when weather permits. Fish are not like cattle; they cannot bo yarded up and killed as required. The weather conditions govern the fishing mdustrj ■ It is quite true that groper are very scarce Just now, no boat securing any quantity, and that having been admitted in my previous reply, why harp <m it. This is the spawning season. While Mr Minnock discussed the scarcity of groper ho was very guarded, and did not inform you that only last week we had to stop the trawlers owing to the large quantities ol soles, being caught. If such a position arises in midwinter, what can tho - fishermen expect in hot summer mouths. Does Mr Minnock or the Fishmongers’ Association when fish are in abundance assist, the auctioneers to rid themselves of an extra case. No. Yet Mr Minnock says they are not responsible for the fish being put in tho freezer and dumped. Ho also says the public under these conditions, are being flouted regarding the high prices. If they are—-and Mr Minnock says so—well, tho fishermen aro not responsible. When fish cannot bo sold on account of an oversupply, it is nob business to still add to that supply and think tho *uctiom,ers can take if over or the fishermen put it in tho freezer to be afterwards dumped. Mr Minnock did not tel] the public .that at the meeting witli tha Chief Inspector of Fisheries (to which no fishermen’s representative was Invited) the auctioneel's when asked to, speak upon the position made the Fishmongers’ Association feel very dismayed and uneasy when they informed the Chief Inspector of Fisheries and the meeting generally they were not assisted to bo relieved of the fish during the surplus season.

It is agreed that all tlic lisii does not go to the Dunedin market, as several fishermen have country customers, and they also send to Christchurch and to other markets. That is their business; but' while criticising these facts Mr Minnock did not tell the public that he and others of the Fishmongers’ Association do not buy all their supplies from the Dunedin market, which is their business Accordingly, why should they interfere with the lishermen? A letter may have been sent to the places named in Mr Minnock’s letter, but here again Mr Minnock tails to inform the public that he and several of the Fishmongers’ .Association . communicated with and waited personally upon some of the places mentioned with" ;i view to inducing them to send all their fell to Dunedin privately or to the market; if so they would buy their lish in preference to bring the Port Chalmers fishermen to their senses. Yet Mr Minnock talks of reciprocity. If Mr Minnock adopts such methods as feeders for reciprocity, is it any wonder that the Government or local bodies or fishermen wifi not co-operate? Mr Mumock criticises the Railway Department, hut he does not tell the public that he would like the Railway Department to run special express trains daily to carry about live or ten cases of fish from some of the places he has written to, and accuses us of writing to. Now, as to the export trade, tbe sii.pping facilities are more than sufficient for the Sydney trade, and to Melmmrne w© have one ship which deals with the supply as it is required. The Melbourne market has this year been glutted with New Zealand fish; so much so that only recently blue cod held in store is slowty being realised to supplant what is-being disposed of in Melbourne. I said before that the South African mantel is a large comnetitor, and can land lish cheaner, as it has' cheaper coloured labour. Air Minnock has never exported lish as we have over a period of years. which gives us the general knowledge of the circumstances arising. The Melbourne market and other Australian markets have their own surplus supplies to deal with in season. Sir Minnock would be doing a real good work for himself and the fishermen if he encouraged local industry and advocated the buying of all their supolies from the Dunedin market, and not adopt the principle of trying to induce other centres to send along their lish with a view to upsetting market conditions. Mr Minnock’s'idea of reciprocity may bo the upsetting of tilings, but mine is that the sooner we realise that wo depend on each other’s goodwill the better. The - fishermen can retail their own if they- so desire, as they catch the goods, but the fishmongers cannot unless they have the goods