MUNICIPAL TRAWLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15664, 18 July 1914, Page 10

MUNICIPAL TRAWLERS.

PRINCIPLE AFFIRMED.

CITY FISH MARKETS. ALLEGED AUCKLAND " RING." [BY TCLECnAPH—SPECIAL correspondent. ] Wellington, Friday. The subject of municipal enterprise in the fishing industry came before the Municipal Conference yesterday. On behalf of the Wellington City Council, Mr. Fletcher moved: "That the Government be requested to amend tnis session the Municipal Corporations Act, empowering city councils and boroughs to purchase fishing trawlers, with full power to carry on and engage in the fishing industry with the object of supplying the community with a fresh and cheap fish food, thus tending to reduce the cost of living." Mr. R. T. Michaels, of Auckland, seconded the motion, and said ho was sorry Wellington had not gone so far as to ask that all fish should go through municipal markets. In Auckland the fish business was in the hands of a " ring," and the Auckland City Council fcit afraid to go on with its market scheme simply because, f it had not power to compel all the fist) to go through the market, tne "ring" would crash the market. Mr. W. J. McGrath, of Napier, supported the motion. Flounders, he said, had sold in the market that day for sixpence a pound, but no was satisfied that the retail shops were charging a great ueai more than that. The motion was carried, with one dissentient. With others, this motion was brought under the notice of the i rime Minister by a deputation from the conference. Mr. Massey promised to give special consideration' to remarks made by Mr. Michaels concerning the fish difficulty in Auckland, of which ho said he had person*! knowledge.