THE FISHING DIFFICULTY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 897, 10 May 1889, Page 22

THE FISHING DIFFICULTY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND MAIL. Sir, —“To pretend that it costs 2d per bundle to bring fish into town and cure it. is simply absurd.” I will give Mr Giorgio Andro a chance to prove his theory. lam quite willing to give Andro 2d a bundle to cart warehou from the beach, salt it, cure it, find all material, and pay all expenses in connection with placing the fish in good condition ready for the market; and will give him an order for 4000 fish a week during the whole of the warehou season, each of us to find - substantial security for the due performance of his contract. As regards the difficulty of procuring fish during the winter months, it is, of course, well known that it is not so easy as at other periods of the year, but a practical fisherman finds little or no difficulty in putting out to sea after the fish at all possible times throughout the year, as the distance is not more than a quarter of a mile from the fishermen’s whare, where he can get as many fish as he requires throughout tho whole of the warehou season. Tim difficulty raised by Andro does not really exist. Why, Sir, last season the fish were so plentiful that the men were ready to supply an unlimited quantity at a very low figure; and but for the enormous waste which must have occurred by accepting the offer, warehou in Wellington would have been as plentiful as Btones on the road. Where, then, is Andro’s difficulty ? I am very glad to knew that the men do not wish to hamper the Export Company. On the other hand, the Company have not the slightest wish to impose upon the men ; but, Sir, I think it is proved that the men at the old price were well paid and at the new prices they will be paid still better, while the oxpotters will have to economise the management in some way in order to bring their profits to the former level. When all trade charges, risks, waste, &c., are taken into account the salesmen do not reap such, a glorious financial harvest as Andro would have the public believe. As regards dealing through the middleman, as Andro states, T can assure the public that the Export Company are represented by a very large shareholder, so that in point of fact the Company deal direct with the men.' In conclusion, Sir, now thai our differences are settled, I hope we shall sail along smoothly, and that the fish export trade, which is becomihgan important,factor in the New Zealand industrial section,' will steadily become more fully developed for tho benefit of all concerned. —I am, &c., . N. Fernandos. Wellington, 2nd May. Sir, —In reference to the statement of Mr Fernandos that he offered the Porirua fishermen L 3 per week and they refused to accept it, I may state that the Porirua fishermen can always command their own price, as the freight from Porirua Bay to Wellington is about one-quarter of that charged from Ohariu Bay. Furthermore, if one fishmonger will not give them their price, another will. Now as far as the Ohariu fishermen are concerned, I and the rest are quite willing to take the L 3 per week at, any time Mr Fernandos chooses to give it. He has only to mention the number of men he requires and he will be supplied at once.: — I am, &'c., Giorgio Andro. [This correspondence is new closed.—Ed.]