CHEAP FISH.

Southland Times, Issue 17786, 15 July 1916, Page 2

CHEAP FISH.

To the Kditor. Sir, —While our politicians are tilling Hansard with voluminous speeches in reference to the cost of living, etc., we have a local illustration of the almost criminal waste of valuable food. 1 refer to the reports that have been current to the effect that large quantities of groper and other fish after being caught aro simply dumped into the sea again, because the fishermen cannot obtain the very modest price of Id per lb for one of the best food fish wo have, viz., groper. That this waste should be going on while the price of meat is on a continually Increasing scale is nothing short of a scandal, and that a remedy has not been found for it long ere this is not creditable to our public men and to those who have been calling out so loudly in regard to the increased cost of living. With your permission I will give you my Ideas of a solution of the problem •which it is a wonder to me baa not been

applied long ore Fiis, and that is to make our railway system the means of bringing cheap and wholesome food to the people. With a great flourish of trumpets we were told some time ago that fish was to be distributed by the parcel post. i.e. a housekeeper was to sit down and write a post card to a fish dealer at, say, the. Biuff, and order a 3/vvorth of fish and bye and bye the parcel would be delivered. This is only playing with the fringe of the subject. What is wanted is that the fish should be taken to the centres of population as rapidly and as cheaply as possible and there distributed through the fish shops, or better still, through municipal fish markets. Why should not our railways carry fish for any distance in the South Island in Insulated vans at a uniform cost of Id per lb ? This at first sight mav seem a bold proposal, hut it has been applied to our postal system for years nast. If I went to send a lettci to tlie next street in Invercargill and use the Post Office I have to pay lid for it and if I want to send a letter to London I have to pay the same. Who complains in regard to this matter ? If the principle can be applied to the post office why not to the distribution of a perishable article like fish ? The loss of revenue if anv, could be made up on another Class of railway freight, or if this was not considered desirable a grant could be made from the general revenue to adjust anv loss to the Hallway Department. If this were done the cost to the individual taxpayer would be a mere fraction. What would be the benefits derived from such g system if adopted ? First, inland towns such as Ashburton and (lore would be placed on the same footing as a sea nort In regard to their fish supply, and additional markets would be opened up: second, the fishing industry would be developed, for it must be remembered that if a fisherman throws half a ton ot groper into the sea it means a loss of £4 13s 4d to him at Id per lb, and this would probably mean all the diffeiente between making a profit or loss on each trip. If my suggestion were carried out it would moan that insulated vans would have to leave the Bluff overnight to connect with the 6.10 a.m. express and other morning trains. If it were known that insulated vans were attached to the Tuatapere trains there would no doubt be a development of the fishing industry at Colac Bay and Riverton, and in the same way the industry would be developed at Fortrose by the Wa.iniahii.ka. train conveying an insulated van. The subject is a large one and X leave it to otheis to work out the details, but I think If the matter Is carefully thought out it will be found that the remedy for preventing a scandalous waste of good food lies In utilising our railways for its distribu,l»" -I am ’ MC " AROUS, Invercargill, July 11th.