THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19148, 14 October 1925, Page 9

THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

q: r TJeplv^fl o ' a criticism of tjft® Labour mwnber" Mr ; TOTdan >. 5t franklv admitted that ho has worked txth, hard and intelligently. On Thursday last we 'heard Mr. Leo opening his campaign with cheap and vulgar witticisms on Mi. Coates, and then professing to be deeply concerned as to the vvelfareo[ theja|eearners and unionists of *ew Zealand, and profoundly interested as to the advancement. of his country. Ly their deeds ve shall know them. Some months •ir»o the Government was approached through various members, Mr. Leo included. praying for legislation to protect our fishing industry. Unless some protection for the industry at Thames coum he obtained, the Thames Fishermen a Union stood to lose several thousand pounds of money, which had been invested in boats, nets, gear, houses, etc., and represented their' hard-earned savings. Mr. Lee was not at all concerned that the fishermen were in danger of great financial loss Numerous petitions were sent to Parliament from the Yacht Clubs, various societies, and the most noteworthy from his own constituents, praying that Parliament conserve our fish, breeding grounds; but Mr. Lee did not wish to respect the wishes of his constituents, much less did he' think it worth .while to conserve the natural resources of his country., Mr. Jordan, on the other hand, worked and got legislation to protect the Manukau, and a Reform member, Mr. Rhodes, was able to safeguard the interests of' the Thames Union and protect the fishing industry in Thames. We get any amount of hot, "air and promises at election time, but deeds speak louder than words, and the above is a ease in point—Labour members who were supposed to be elected to protect the interests of unions, and especially the small working man, from (lie greed of combines, deliberately flouting their wishes ar.d ignoring their requests. One would have thought that the protection of the natural resources of the countrv would have called for Mr. J.ee s work and interest, even if he knew noting of the scientific side of the case. Ine country requires capable men ana the Wing cin-s also require capable and liitelligeii-: men to renresent them, and lust because, they are ticketed "La.Jout does not* evidently- mean that they are gcirg work in* the best intercessor the