FISH SENT BACK TO FISHERMEN

Southland Times, Issue 23795, 18 April 1939, Page 6

FISH SENT BACK TO FISHERMEN

REFUSAL TO ACCEPT EXPORTERS’ PRICE

REDUCTION OF RATES FOR SURPLUS CATCH ________ (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 17. A large supply of fish on the Dunedin market this morning and the refusal of the Port Chalmers fishermen to dispense of the surplus to exporters at the basic price fixed by the latter resulted in the return of approximately three hundredweight of fish to the fishermen today. Some time ago an arrangement was entered into between the fishermen and the exporters whereby surplus fish that was not rquired by local retailers would be taken over by the exporters at a certain price. Comparatively recently, because of the uncertain state of the Australian market for New Zealand fish, exporters felt compelled to reduce the basic price payable to fishermen for their surplus catch, an action that was not acceptable to the fishermen, who subsequently took steps to ally themselves with the Seamen’s Union with the intention of protecting their interests. Until this morning, however, supplies of fish reaching the local market were not more than could be absorbed through the usual retail channels but today the fishermen refused to sell three hundredweight of surplus fish to the exporters at the latter’s price, with the result that for the first time for a number of years the fish was returned to Port Chalmers.