LEASING OYSTER BEDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 11

LEASING OYSTER BEDS.

MINISTER NOT FAVOURABLE. "DISADVANTAGES TOO GREAT." PRESENT SYSTEM RETAINED. "It lias boon suggested that j•baching of oy.-.ters would be largely prevented it tile 1 icds were leased," said the Minister for Marine, tho Hon. (!. d. Anderson, yesterday. "This proposal has had very careful consideration, and while it offers certain advantages, the disadvantages are so great that for the present, at any rate, ami until I can see clearly some met hud of preventing the abuse which would be liable to arise, I have decided to retain the present system. "It has the outstanding advantages of giving the public all the oysters that can safely be picked under tho present conditions of the beds, of assuring the consumers that the price will he a reasonable one, and of continuing the work of still further developing the oyster fisherics." Up to 1008. continued the Minister, anvbodv was allowed to take, oysters who obtained a license, the result being that the beds became utterly depleted. .In 19C8, the department took, over tin; picking, combining tho duties <>l protection, cultivation oi fresh beds and marketing to the public. Tho result had been a financial success, so far as the department was concerned, although it. had not set out to make a large profit. The. beds were now in vastly improved condition, and new beds planted were coming along vrrv satisfactorily. 1 nlcss tho picking of the oysters was conducted according to proper method and system, and under strict supervision, the beds would inevitably go back.