NEW ZEALAND’S FISH SUPPLY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND’S FISH SUPPLY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —An Australian cable appearing in a recent issue of your journal conveyed the information that an Australian company was being formed, with a capital of £509,000, for the purpose of trawling New Zealand waters, and assuring, as the promoters say, an adequate supply of Now Zealand fish for Australia. 1 am sure, sir, that the average New Zealander does not mind the Australians having a bit of New Zealand fish, but what steps are being taken, may I ask, to see that the New Zealand people are adequately supplied, at a price within the reach of everyone ? Fish in New Zealand is a luxury, and, strange to say, a commodity the price of which never seemed to he affected by the much talked of law of supply and demand. It is absurd, when one considers that Nature supplies the fish free of all the charges that land is subject to in the production of meat, that it is dearer than meat. In the natural order of tilings it should be the .reverse. The fixing of blame for such a condition can only be decided by inquiry which, no doubt, will eventually be made. It cannot be oil account of the perishable nature of fish, as the refrigerator settles that argument. The fisherman struck some time ago, because, as the Press stated, they could not get more than a penny to a penny halfpenny a pound for their catch. People would eat more fish if they could obtain it at a lower price.—l am, etc.,, W. F. CUTLER, 39 Ada Street, Palmerston North.