SEA FISHERIES INVESTIGATION

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 4

SEA FISHERIES INVESTIGATION

Report To Be Ready After Christmas PRAISE FOR WORK OF COMMITTEE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) 'WELLINGTON, December 7. The report of the Sea Fisheries Investigation Committee will be presented to Parliament after the Christmas recess, according to a statement made by the Minister of Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser) when the Supplementary Estimates were under consideration in the House of Representatives today. The matter was raised by Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Nat., Riccarton) when the supplementary vote for the Marine Department was being discussed. He suggested that Mr J. Thorn (Lab., Thames), who is chairman of the committee, should inform the House of the progress made in the investigations. Mr Thorn: You are fishing, but I’m not biting. Mr Fraser said it was expected that the report would be ready tor presentation when the House met again early in the new year. Tremendous importance was attached to the committee’s investigations, during which much valuable information had been gained. “It is staggering to realize the paucity of information at our disposal concerning our sea fisheries,” the Minister added. “Repeated complaints have been made in this respect by the chief inspector of fisheries (Mr A. E. Hefford) and even when the committee has finished its work there will still be research to be undertaken. However, I am satisfied that no committee appointed by the Government has done more conscientious work.”