STATS OYSTER FISHERIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14211, 12 May 1908, Page 3

STATS OYSTER FISHERIES.

"PICKERS" DISSATISFIED.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND. May 10. Thero is a good deal of discontent, amongst oj'sror pickers, as well as fish dealers, in connection with the Government's methods of "running" the industry. One of the former put their case to a. representative of tho Herald last night. He stated that last season 64 pickers wore em. ployed at the various beds, and the year before about 180, the latter being" the usual number. "How," he asked, "could the State expect to meet the supply with tho men now employed, not more than 50, all to'd? They have got men there." he said, "who know little or nothing about oystering. Men they picked up in the street. The employment was never advertised, and the consequence is that all the professional 'pickers' arc in town. The limit of three bags per day per ma,n means that, weather permitting, each picker now employed can make 19s 6d per day. What the Government should dp is to' pay the men 4s or 5s per bag instead of 6s 6d, and let them' pick as many oysters a.s they can. Tito have inspectors to see lhat they dont't pick ' the oysters roughly, but that would be hardly necessary if they employed good pickers." The speaker went on to refer to Mr Ayson's statement that no more than three a day could ho picked to have the work done properly. "I challenge Mr Ayson, or anyone else," he said, "on that point. I would pick three bags of oysters an hour in some places at WaiheUo, and in any place at all in two hours. A man that could not pick three bags in three hours, well, he ought not to l>c there. The public have to pay the piper! Under the present svslem the men are getting 19s 6d for a half day's work. The beds are in good condition, and the public should reap the benefit in the shape of cheap oysters, hut where are llm cheap oysters?" A meeting of pickers and fish-dealers was to have been held last night" lo discriss the present position, but owing to short notice iherc was not as full an attendance as was desired, and the roeer-intr was postponed until Monday night. .Shopkeepers who put in an appearance last night expressed strong disapproval of the shortness of supplies. "There are not half enough oysters," was the general crv.