MINISTERS ON TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21469, 18 April 1933, Page 10

MINISTERS ON TOUR

BAY OF ISLANDS NEEDS FISHING WITH NETS REMOVAL OF BAN SOUGHT [BY TELEOUAPII SPECIAL RKPOItTKII] RUSSELL, Monday After spending tho Easter holidays at Russell, the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, and the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters, will resume their extensive Northern tour to-morrow morning. The party spent a great part of the holiday in line fishing, and both Ministers were enthusiastic about tho attractions of the northern coast. The people of the bay have been met and many matters discussed relating to schools and tho affairs of the district in general. The llussell Town Board asked for some attention to the new road from Whangaroi, as some places are likely to prore impassable in winter. A complaint was made by Mr. E. C. Arlidge, on behalf of tho fishermen, that owners of boats were prevented by the inspectors from using the drag net, which, they say, in no way resembles tho Danish seine net. The men maintain expensive launches for game fishing, biit tho season is of short duration, and they say that if prevented from using drag nets to get marketable fish at a time when they need both fish and money urgently, they will have to sell their boats and seek relief work. Mr. Arlidge said that it was in the men's interests to see that there was no interference with breeding grounds and no depletion of fish. Moro game fish hud been met with on the coast this season than ever since the sport had been established, and had there been the usual number of visitors tho men would have done well. The coming of big fish showed that schnappcr were plentiful, and they caught only schnappcr for sale. Mr. A. E. Bissct, chairman of the Town Board, supported tho fishermen, and said that, unless there was good reason to believe that the fish were being depleted they should be allowed to use nets and keep themselves off relief during the winter. He did not think this kind of fishing was going to clean the fish out. Mr. Ransom said that nothing should be done to make tho Bay of Islands less attractive to tourists and overseas fishermen. This was a matter for tho Marino Department, but tho department and the Town Board were equally interested. He promised to discuss the matter with tho Minister of Marino.