THE PRICE OF FISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15658, 11 July 1914, Page 12

THE PRICE OF FISH.

. Sir,—l have during late years visited London on threo different occasions, and one of my hobbies was to visit Billinsgate fish market.- Tiiere, after 9 a.m., you could get your choice of a dozen kinds of fish, and from 81b to 151b for a shilling or a box of bloaters, 50 for 2s 6d. A fewyears ago we had fishermen selling fish from their boats to the public at the Auckland wharf. This soon broke down. Before the.Government went into the oyster line a large sack of oysters cost the dealers £1. • Now tho Government Bells them for 13s per sack, but you must take a whole sack. ;■ What is the, use of bragging about reducing prices, when it is only dealers who participate? Wo . wont more fishermen, more boats, and mure fish for the money. '•• J, Forbest. .Cambridge.

Sir,—One hears a great deal about tho price of fish in Auckland, but never any mention about the high price of meat. With 30 years' experience of net and lino fishing in and around Aackland, I can say that it is not the fishermen who get the high prices'for fish. In the summer and autumn months enough fisli can be caught to supply the whole of .New Zealand at a reasonable price. Tta fishermen'are at the mercy of the dei; ters, and they are limited to about two trips a- week. What are the fishermen to do? They have no other ways of get) ing rid of their catches, so they have to step at home. They want, fish markets established in all the large towns of Nev Zealand. The public' being led to oelieve that if they, get the trawlers to work in the gulf they will get cheap fish. I contend that to allow- the restriction to be taken off trawling would be one of the last acts which a sane Government would sanation. There is plenty of room .outside the gulf limits, ond-there are just as good fish outside as in. J. J. Smith. Thames. "' ' •

JAPAN'S PLANS. Sir,—There appears to be a phase of the naval question overlooked. Not. long ago the' Japanese, made an attack on the United States, in the form of emigration, which was taken by Europe in all seriousness. Their " overtures wero rejected. Later we havo a Hindoo invasion of Canada,--which is also nipped in the bud. In her war with Russia, Japan relied on Britain's active co-operation, which, for obvious reasons, was not forthcoming. The Japanese recognised that their op. porient'waa-. utterly unprepared, but even so, a valiant foe, and if thoroughly prepared, _ a valuable ally. Since they now are allies, and both arming and strengthening their navies, we can anticipate joint action oft their-part, Japan in the East and Pacific, and Russia 1 in India, Persia and her old objective, the Dardanelles! The attempt to emigrate to the United States,, was merely a 'blind, as tho Japanese were perfectly awaro that they would be refused admission. If they had diverted their scheme of emigration in numbers to Canada or Australia, thev would have shown their hand, which is not the Japanese way. Instead, they secure, the services of another Asiatic race who form part of the British Empire, to start the ball rolling— Hindoos. It appears that the Japanese are in collusion with Russia, to create trouble with Britain and her colonies, and India. The trouble in the Balkans would form part, of the programme to divert attention. ■";;'.• Forewarned.