THE FISHING INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8192, 6 August 1912, Page 6

THE FISHING INDUSTRY

A supporter of the Government wishes the Ministry to convert the fishing industry into a State enterprise.

It is with some surprise that we find' Mr G. M. Thomson, Dunedin’s sole “reformer” in tho House of Representatives, urging the Ministry “to investigate the possibilities of converting the fishing industry into a State concern.” This he does, however, in a question addressed to the Minister for Marino, the object being to provide on improved, cheaper and more widely distributed supply. It will be interesting to hear what tho Minister says in reference to this matter, but with his colleagues’ fierce denunciation of State enterprise still in our ears we shall not be greatly surprised if Mr Thomson finds himself gently but firmly given to understand that the Government has more important matters to attend to than the creation of a Fish Department. That the community has something to complain about in the supply of fish as an article of diet can hardly be doubted, but it is only fair to say that the smallness of our population, tho difficulties of transport, and the interruptions created by tho sudden changes of weather experienced on the coast must all be taken into consideration. Whether tho State could overcome these obstacles to continuity of trade we have yet to.learn, but if _we are to judge by the manner in which it carries on business as a supplier of coal the outlook is not particularly promising. As things are at present it seems to ’us that the State could best assist tho people to get fish by making arrangements for more expeditious transport of consignments. The fishing grounds extending from the Kidnappers to Mahia, for instance, could be brought quite close to Wellington and the provincial towns if the Railway Department would condescend to carry the fish by express trains. This it refuses to do, and other parts of the Dominion are in very much the same position. There are reasons for this, no doubt, but if they happen to be insuperable it is hard to see that the State could conduct tho sale of fish more satisfactorily than the individuals who labor under the handicap here referred to. .the establishment of markets where fishermen might dispose of their catch is sometimes spoken of as likely to improve the conditions now so freely complained of, and here in Wellington

a first experimental step _ is being taken in that direction. We have yet to learn what direct effect this will havo upon prices and the volume of supply and whether the public will patronise such an establishment. It would probably be r good thing if the community were to eat more fish and less meat, and thi» consideration is alone sufficient to Justify steps being taken for bringing the fishermen into closer touch with consumers. There seems to be an inexhaustible supply in New Zealand waters, and while we scarcely think the State is called upon to become a catcher and purveyor of fish it can be readily granted that it should take the public into consideration when framing its transport regulations, and that local bodies ought to show much more enterprise than they have in the past so far as affording facilities for sale are concerned. This latter point need not involve a great expenditure. Indeed, all that is wanted can bo provided quit© economically.