NEGLECTED WEALTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20929, 20 July 1931, Page 10

NEGLECTED WEALTH.

UNNECESSARY IMFORTS. NEW ZEALAND FISHERIES. DEVELOPMENT OF CANNING. LARGE RESOURCES NEGLECTED. No. VII. Full utilisation of New Zealand's vast fishing resources has been too long delayed. Up to the present only the east coast fishing grounds have been regularly exploited on a commercial scale. Some of the western fishing grounds remain in practically a virgin condition, and off-shore deep-sea fisheries have been neither exploited nor explored. With a realisation of the potentialities the fishing industry must become increasingly important as a source of food supply for New Zealanders and as a means of providing a lucrative export trade.

Contrasted with this vast reservoir of virtually untapped wealth, which lies so close at hand, are the figures for New Zealand's importations of fish. In 1930 these were valued at £159,251, compared with £209,302 in 1929. Main items of fish preserved in tins imported in 1930, with the country of export, are as follows : Canada, £116,941; Norway, £45,130; Portugal, £754. By far the largest amount of this tinned fish came from Canada, as the figures show, which helps to demonstrate what a valuable source of revenue to Canada is the salmon-canning industry of that country.

Salmon In New Zealand. In the absence of a salmon-canning industry in New Zealand, it is, perhaps, inevitable that a large amount of money shall be spent each year on Canadian salmon, but it is confidently believed by those acquainted with the position that the establishment of a salmon-canning industry in New Zealand is only a matter of time. Salmon have been introduced into many of the southern rivers of the Dominion, and tho Government has been requested to allow canning to proceed, but it is held that the time is not yet ripe, as the fish are not sufficiently well established to withstand their removal on a commercial scale. The position should be watched keenly, so that no opportunity is lost of securing for New Zealand a profitable trade. Lobsters and whitebait already are canned in New Zealand, and this is a branch of the industry capable of expansion. New Zealanders who can secure their whitebait fresh from the rivers usually do so, but a profitable trade with Australia in tinned whitebait has been built up. Like other trades, it has been affected by the depression, but depressions are not permanent things. Some concern has been expressed lest canning should spell the extinction of whitebait, but opinion differs on this point. In any case, most problems can be surmounted, and there seems no reason why the country's whitebait resources should not be maintained and the canning industry developed. Oysters and Blue Cod.

Oysters canned in the south by a special process are meeting with success on tho Auckland market. This speaks volumes for both tho quality and price of the product, since at. present it la meeting the competition of the local oyster and the fresh Stewart Island oyster, and also the effects of the depression, which compels the public to keep a check on all such expenditure. An\ endeavour is also being made to place on the market a canned blue cod which, those who have tasted it assert, has nothing to fear regarding price and flavour when compared with any imported canned fish. These examples go to show that not only has New Zealand the natural resources at its command, but that New Zealanders are fully capable of producing a canoed product which will demand a market by virtue of its quality. There is no valid reason why this should not be so, but prejudice agaiD is an unwarranted barrier which all pioneering efforts are called upon to mef*t. This must not be allowed to persist, as it is detrimental to the country's expansion and prosperity. Hauraki Gulf Sardines.

The returns show that a substantial sum each year is spent on Norwegian sardines, and this in spite of the fact that sardines are found in the Hauraki Gulf. It is a reproach to New Zealanders that the potentialities of the local sardine fisheries were not -investigated thoroughly long ere this, for until New Zealand's resources in this connection are exhaustively surveyed the full possibilities will not bo known. It is certain, however, that sardines make their habitat iti the Hauraki Gulf, and it has been left to the enterprise of Dalmatian experts to approach the matter from the commercial standpoint. The scope for employment alone in the fishing industry is a large one, and even in the present stage of its development it provides a large number of men with a livelihood. For the year ended March 31, 1930, the number of fishermen engaged on full-time work was 1736. and the number on part-time work 827, a total of 2563. In addition, 478 people, other than retailers, were engaged in the industry. Of this number 413 were engaged on wholetimo and 65 on part-time work.

At times like the present, when unemployment is a problem which looms large, tlie capability of an industry to provide work is a feature that stands out prominently. From the point of view of tho employment it would offer the development of the fishing industry demands attention. As a source of revenue that would help to maintain tho Dominion at a high level of prosperity it has been too long neglected. Such a deplorable position should bo remedied with all speed.