AUCKLAND OYSTER-BEDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND OYSTER-BEDS

STATE CONTROL.

(Per Xlkited Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 27.

The intention of the Marine Department to eeok legislative power in regard to the State control , of the oyster beds of Auckland was referred to during'an interview with tlio Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister'of Marine by a Star to-day. " I intend introducing a bill dealing with tho question next session," said tho Minister, "as tho experience of the past has shown that indiscriminate picking is simply ruining the 'scds. The beds on the whole of the islands aiid foreshore which were opened last year for picking have been stripped, absolutely bare, and it will take five years for thcta- to: recover. If the some thing is allowed to continue there will soon bo no oysters in Auckland or any. where also. We are opening a certain portion this year only until the wholo question of liccnsincr tho foreshore to those people who own contiguous land has been considered hy Parliament. My proposal will bo that landowners are allowed to leaec beds at a fair price from the Government, and that they do tho picking, tho Government to retain sufficient areas in their hands to prevent any monopoly or increase in price. Lessees will only piok the miture oysters, and will thus ensure a rogular supply. They will have to rcgulato their charges by the prico we put on those taken from our. beds, and thus fhepfe.- will bo no fear of a monopoly. Of course our pickers will have strict instructions fo pick only mature oysters, so that fresh supplies will be ready season after season,'and our local market kept supplied." Do you propose to prohibit export of oysters to Sydney? "I do not think there will lie any necessity to do so this year,. because the hods opened will only bo sufficient for Iceal requirements, and the number will not Ikj increased. The areas already gazetted will have to suffice for the whole of the season, and when they aro exhausted no more will be opened. Something will probably be done in the way of cultivating oysters w the stripped- 'beds."