WHALING STEAMERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7929, 12 October 1911, Page 2

WHALING STEAMERS

DANGER TO THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

The attention of the Minister of Marine was directed at the end of last week by Mr C. H. Poole to the serious menace to the local fishing industry by a new' move on the part of a foreign nation to equip a large steamer as a floating factory, for the purpose of fishing on the coast and operating in harbours under foreign register and pay, to the serious detriment of the whaling, trawling, and other branches of tho fishing industryYesterday the Minister stated in re_ply that it was understood that certain Norwegian firms propose to carry on whaling off tho New Zealand coasts and to moor vessels ■in suitable harbours for use as floating factories, for the purpose of working up tho by-products into marketable commodities. “There is,” he said, “no law to prevent this provided the harbour and health regulations are complied with. It is not likely that many whales will bo caught in territorial waters, and it is not within tho power of the Dominion to prevent anyone taking them outside such waters.” . “It is not a very encouraging reply, said Mr Poole. He reminded the House that a New Zealand .syndicate had purchased a vessel, the Ifananui, for whaling purposes, and immediately it was stated that a large Norwegian syndicate was about to exploit the industry, using New Zealand waters and harbours under a foreign flag and foreign trade conditions, and probably sweeping the whole of the coast and sending the produce to foreign ports. If there was to be that competition it should be under local conditions. , . . . „ “This thing must he put a stop to, said Mr J. Hainan, in supporting the protest. He thought that tho position constituted a national danger. . Mr L. M. Isitt also urged that tho whaling and sealing industries should be scrupulously protected.