SALE OF FISH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23260, 1 February 1939, Page 16

SALE OF FISH

GISBORNE WHARF PROHIBITION DESIRED HARBOUR BOARD'S DECISION [by TKLKGItAPH —own correspondent] GISBORNE, Tuesday Invited by the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Eraser, to take action to prevent the continued sale of fish over the wharf from trawlers operating from Gisborne. the Harbour Board to-day elected to confirm its earlier decisions taken on the same subject. The effect will bo to place the oiuis for any future action on the Minister. The board was unanimous in the view that it could ' not restrict the activities of fishermen in the matter of direct', soiling; to the public. The subject was raised in. a letter from the Minister, who asked whether the board would be prepared to adopt the suggestion offered by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. i). G. Sullivan, who recommended a by-law which would restrict selling over the wharf, and thus relieve what he described as a most difficult position in the fish industry in Gisborne. Chairman's Comment Commenting on the letter, the chairman of the board, Mr. A. J. Nicol, stated that the question had been raised fl.t various times since 1932 and successive boards had set their faces against any alteration in the present method of dealing with fish at the wharf. In 1935 the board had registered its opinion that no action should be taken. On that occasion the matter had been settled by an arrangement between the fishermen and retailers and sales at the wharf had stopped. "Now that arrangement has been upset," said Mr. Nicol, "in my opinion the Minister can easily regulate the position if he desires to do so. The Government has taken extensive powers to control industry. Rise in Price "So many people go to the wharf for their fish that the trawlers cannot supply them all,'* said Mr. J. J. MacDonald, "The other boats only sell small fisli that the shops do not want. Anyway, if the Government wants to prohibit the sale of fish at the wharf, let it take action." Mr. M. T. Trafford stated that fish should be cheap and plentiful in Gisborne, yet he was a member of a board which had to buy fish in quantity and which had found the price increasing steeply. A year ago his board had purchased fish at 3d per lb. Six months ago the price rose to 6d per lb. And now the price was 9d, lOd and lid per lb., according to description. The people of Gisborne could not buy fresh fish at that orice. If sales at the wharf were prohibited many people'would have to go without altogether. x Mr. I. J. Quigley said there would be a public uproar if the hoard suspended sales of fish at the wharf. The board decided to take no action.