FISH FOR U.S. FORCES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1945, Page 6

FISH FOR U.S. FORCES

CONSUL DENIES ALLEGATION AUCKLAND, March 23. “As far as I know, no threats have ever been made by any responsible American official in New Zealand, nor, indeed, has there ever been occasion for threatened retaliation of anv kind,” said the United States Consul (Mr. H. A. Boucher), who expressed surprise at a statement made by an officer of the National Service * Department before the Industrial Manpower Committee that the American authorities threatened last year, to bring their own fishing craft into New Zealand waters if the local fishing industry could not maintain a sufficient supply of fish for the American forces in the Pacific. Mr. Boucher said that in January, 1943, experts of the American Board of Economic Warfare came to Auckland on a general survey of the South Pacific area, but with particular reference to the islands north of New Zealand, to ascertain in what ways agricultural and other production could be increased in the war effort. While here the group conferred with fish packers, among other food producers, and learned that no great increase in fish products would be possible without additional fishing craft, equipment, and manpower being furnished by the United States or others. The group considered this impracticable. The following quotation from an official report transmitted' by the group to its headquarters in Washington, through the American Consulate, was given by Mr. Boucher: “We have had most gratifying cooperation from the New Zealand authorities and have received their full authorisation to operate in their island territories.”