DEAR FISH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 5 March 1914, Page 1

DEAR FISH

CHRISTCHURCH COMPLAINTS. New Zealand's shores must surely abound in enough fish to more than supply the wants of the public, yet there is an almost persistent scarcity 'of fish,' • and this season has been something more than ordinary in this respect. InTimaru,. it is stated, fish is being obtained, from Dunedin, though usually Timaru .supplies its own wants with its fleet of. fishing boats. A "Lyttelton Times" reporter called upon one or two local fish buyers, and asked them for the reason of the scarcity. "I really don't know whether there is a scarcity or not/' one man said. "The supply and sale of the fish are all controlled by one market in Christchurch, and it is difficult to find out whether there could be a moire, plentiful supply, but I am not at all . satisfied with the way in-w"hich the sales are conducted. AN INSTANCE. "Only last Saturday morning," he , continued, "there was a very glaring instance of the manner in. which the' supply is kept back. A large consignment of proper came down from Kaikoura, and only about half of this was' offered for sale -o'n Saturday .morning; it brought about £3 a case. The 're- - mainder went into the freezing room. _ That is the kind of treatment we have to put up with . The people want cheap" fish, and we are powerless to give it to them, because of the way in which the fish is treated by those who have suqh a. bit; control over it." MUNICIPAL MARKET URGED. "There is no doubt," he went on to say, "that a, solution of the whole trouble could be found in a" municipal ' fish market. The" public seem to. think;, that we"'arc against such a proposal, but 1 can assure you that' there is nothing we would welcome more. ' The/prices 'of. fish have been gradually brought up to a very high figure, and groper, fo* which, lour or five years ago I'-paid 3s each, now cannot be bought for less than 7s to 10s each. In every other way, we are completely at the beck and call of the persons concerned in the only market in Christchurch. SEA FULL OF FISH. "Do you think there'are plenty of fish round 'the New Zealand coasts?" the -reporter asked another fishmonger. j ■••Why, in a new country, such as this. :s. there must ''be, and I know for-»-fact that there is more than we could* use. I wonder that the people put up> with the charges for fish, but I would just as readilv sell it cheaply .as'at. the ■" present dear prices\ With the supplies which we have at our doors practically we, ought to be able to sell it at about 2£d per lb., but as if stands at present we have to charge about s£d per lb. I import a good amount of fish" on mV own account, but I have to fall back on the fish from the Christchurch market. otherwise I would lose trade. "Would you favour a municipal market?" he ..was asked. "Well. I would be glad to" see any' change "from the system which is in existence at present," was the reply. "A municipal market would make a great, difference, and it •is clear something ought to be done. I am sure that we would have a better supply than there • is at present, and the prices would bo much .cheaper. ■ ■ •■ ■ -i i EXPORTED BLUE COD. "The way in which the smoked blue . cod is exported out of this country has the effect of draining the local market. You can-hardly get a smoked blue codexcept at a very high price, because it all goes to Sydney, Melbourne, and other Australian cities, where is it greatly in demand, being esteemed a dehcacy, and. consequently fetches a high price. To my mind I think the duty that is at present put on blue cod exported from . the country should be raised so that more of it should be kept here for local consumption. I have spoken to those concerned several times about this, a,na ;if nothing is done, I am going to 'approach some members of Parliament: to see if they cannot bring a httle pressure to bear, ond remedy what I. flunk is a great injustice to the public. -'l'