STATE ADVANCES

Southland Times, Issue 20834, 24 July 1929, Page 5

STATE ADVANCES

FISHING INDUSTRY SYSTEM NOT WORKING SATISFACTORILY DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE (Special to the Times.) Wellington, July 23. Just how far the State Advances office should go in granting assistance to men engaged in the fishing industry was a matter briefly discussed in the House today. The Rev. C. J. Carr (L., Timaru) and Mr J. S. Fletcher (U, Grey Lynn) urged that every assistance should be given to fishermen. Mr Fletcher said that native-born New Zealanders should be given help to establish themselves in the industry and consideration should be given to the claims of experienced fishermen in the Old Country who might want to take up that form of livelihood here. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart (R., Dunedin West) said that this question had arisen when he was in charge of the State Advances Department and one of the difficulties that cropped, up related to insurance. In one case it had happened that the man was given insurance on condition that he did not go outside certain boundaries in the Auckland Gulf. However, the man did so. His motor fishing launch was wrecked and, on the insurance company repudiating liability, the State Advances Department became alarmed as to what its security was to be. Unless the difficulty of insurance could be gfit over, so far as future cases were concerned, he agreed with the idea of giving assistance to fishermen in regard io stores, gear, etc. Mr Fletcher interjected that the State Insurance Department was looking into the matter. The Prime Minister said that, the system of making advances to fishermen had not worked satisfactorily. The total amount advanced during the year ended March 31, 1929, was £2,000. The total amount outstanding in respect to advances on March 31 last was £1.025 17/2. The number of persons or associations who had made default under the Act was three and the amount involved was £9l 4/6. So far the results had been so unsatisfactory that: the State Advances Department whs not warranted in going on with it. His sympathies were with those who were urging that consideration should be given to the fishermen, but sympathy as a matter of fact did not bring the results they would like tc see.

Mr Fletcher: “Perhaps the Prime Minister would look info it?”

Sir Joseph Ward: “Yes. I will go into it.”