FISHERMEN'S GRIEVANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14223, 20 November 1909, Page 8

FISHERMEN'S GRIEVANCES.

POSSIBILITY OF A STRIKE* A UNION FORMING. V . There is trouble between those who CO '' down to the sea to catch fish for the pX' lie of Auckland and the merchants who buy the finny spoils from the fishermen and supply the- retailers. . The friction a not of recent origin, but it is said to $£«,, been aggravated by the merchant^,' who• purchase from the fishermen at so'much 1 a bundle, insisting that the bundles should be increased by 50 per cent, without rais- . ing the price per bundle. It i s stated ''-' that as a result of refusing this demand • about a dozen men have been unable to->-find a buyer for their fish, and have had*. '■■.- to cease work. Some of the men are in* favour of concerted action in refusing to''" supply the merchants unless these men are'' "' reinstated. " <.-•."*'

In order to obtain redress of what they " term their wrongs the, fishermen ofAuck-! land are organising themselves into at. union, to be known as the Auckland : Fishermen's Union, and a general meet.> ing is being called. The objects of the 1 ; union are, briefly, to maintain the princi-" V pies of fair and just dealing between the fishermen and the merchants they supplv L' offer opposition to injustice, and to protect the consumer from exploitation. It is stated that the conditions under' which the majority of the fishermen work'- ;i are that they find their own boats and* % ; ' are allowed .to sell the merchants" up to* £8 worth of fish weekly from each boat. 1 They allege that fish which they sell at■ the rate of 16 for 2s cost the public 3s. -; or 4s a dozen. The men say that-their; action will not increase the price of ushth-, to the public, but will rather reduce it, 1 as, if they are put to it, they will sellj: directly to the public at the wharf side, f". ■ /