SUCCESSFUL TRAWLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18631, 12 February 1924, Page 5

SUCCESSFUL TRAWLING.

AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONS. LESSON IN SOCIALISM. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WINS. [from OUR OWN COE.B.KSPOVDENT-3 SYDNEY, Feb. 6. A remarkable demonstration of how private enterprise can not only succeed, but rapidly expand in exactly , the same field as that in which Government effort fail#*! miserably, is afforded by th« trawling industry in New South Wales. Some years ago the then Labour Government found itself with an unexplored field in this industry, and resolved to develop it in order to demonstrate what State ownership could do 'in providing cheap food for the public. Trawlers were imported, and State fish shops were opened. The early days of thfl industry were beset with difficulties, strikes and other troubles with the employees _ greatly harassing the management. With these overcome the industry settled down to pursue its destiny in competition with the ordinary fishermen, and to fulfil its mission of "cheap fish for the people," expenses were cut down in such directions a3 marketing the fish without their having previously been cleaned. Even then the margin of cost was not such as to overcome the public prejudice against purchasing fish in this condition, and the enterprise gradually settled down to being a growing charge upon the pubii<s purse. The present Government found it with an enormous deficit which could not possibly be overtaken, and decided to sell the whole concern, lock, stock and barrel. The trawl were bought up by private enterprises a year or two ago, and they have _ since been running with such increasing success that it is now announced that a private concern has decided to establish a new undertaking, for which two first-class Scottish trawlers have been purchased. It is intended to distribute fish and also to erect a factory at Balmain (Sydney), for the smoking and curing of fish. One of the old State trawlers is now in the possession of the firm, which intends to exploit the Melbourne market as well as that of Sydney for fresh fish, the proposal being that- the trawlers shall make alternate trips from the fishing grounds on the South Coast of New South Wales to the two capitals. It is intended later to extend the operations to the canning of fish, which will then be dona for the first time in Australia.