FISH FOR FORCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25802, 24 March 1945, Page 6

FISH FOR FORCES

AMERICAN INQUIRIES

ALLEGED THREAT DENIED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Mar. 23. “As far as I know, no threats haveever been made by any responsible American official in New Zealand, nor, indeed, has there ever been ah occasion for threatened retaliation of any kind,” said the United States Consul,'Mr H. A. Boucher, who expressed surprise to-day at a statement made by an officer of the National Service Department before the Industrial Man-power Committee that the American authorities had threatened last year to bring their own fishing craft into New Zealand waters if the local fishing industry could not maintain a sufficient supply of fish for the American forces in the Pacific. Mr Boucher said that in January, 1943, experts of the American Board of Economic, Warfare came to Auckland on a general survey of the South Pacific area, but with particular reference to the islands north of New Zealand, to ascertain in what ways agricultural and other production could be increased in the war effort. While here, the group had conferred with fish packers, among .other food producers, and had learned that no great, increase, in fish, .products, -would - be possible without additional fishing craft, equipment and man-power being furnished by the United. States or from elsewhere. The group had considered this impracticable. ._ i The following quotation from the offi.-. cial report transmitted by the group tc its headquarters in Washington through the American Consulate was given by Mr Boucher: “We have had most gratifying co-operation from the New Zealand authorities, and have received their full authorisation to operate in their island territories.”