N.Z. FISH INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 277, 23 November 1945, Page 6

N.Z. FISH INDUSTRY

BILL INTRODUCED TO PUT IT ON NEW FOOTING

MEASURE SUPPORTED BY BOTH PARTIES

(P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Nov. 21. Speaking to the second reading of the Fisheries Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night, the Minister of Marine, Mr. O’Brien, said its purpose was to enable the Marine Department to take over the licensing of fishermen and obviate dual licensing which had been in force up to the present time.

The Marine Department would have power to direct fishermen and prevent grounds being fished out and depleted. In order to cope with the activities of poachers the department had acquired some launches from the Navy with a good turn of speed. If a fisherman was caught poaching, or not obeying the Act, it would be possible for the department to refuse to renew his licence, and there was also power to seize the boat.

The Bill provided for the licensing of fishermen and the registration of their boats, and two main points were the conservation of fishing grounds and rehabilitation of returned servicemen. It would also be possible to look after local fishermen’s rights and see that outside fishermen did not raid their grounds.

Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Opp., Marsden") said he welcomed the Bill because it was a genuine attempt on the part of the Minister to improve the general conditions of the industry. What concerned the public most was how the best markets couid be supplied with fish at a reasonable price, year by year. Supplies had diminished until a necessity became a luxury. He said there had not been adequate supervision in the past to prevent the depletion of fishing grounds, and conservation of breeding places was one of the major problems which confronted the Minister. The Minister had said that it was difficult to catch poachers. He considered a solution was for the department to get faster boats. There never had been a time .in our history, said Mr. Murdoch, when (action was needed more than now to get the fishing industry back to the flourishing state which existed a few years ago. Mr. J. Thorn (Govt., Thames) said the Bill’s main purpose was conservation of fisheries, and, therefore, it might well be that to ensure the future of the industry fish supply might actually have to be reduced. It might be necessary to correct any impression of the inexhaustibility of fisheries in New Zealand waters. Any desirable conservation policy might, for a time, mean a lessening of fish supply. Mr. Thorn said that in previous debates there had been a strong feeling against the export of fish. He was pleased to say that exports had been gradually declining in recent years. If he had the power he would prevent large Australian trawlers fishing in New Zealand waters, and would also stop Seine boats fishing in our waters for export to Australia. New Zealand’s fish population could not stand up to the operations of trawlers and Seine boats operating for export. Mr. Thorn said we must consider seriously whether we could Jet our fishing fleet devote itself mainly to the sending of fish to some other part of the world. If we were going to let that happen we might as well close down now on any conservation measures we had in mind. Mr. Thorn

urged more effective inspection for enforcement purposes, and the encouragement of inspectors by the imposition of substantial penalties on those who crossed the line into protected areas simply to score an advantage over those who played fair. Fishermen who infringed the law in that way were pirates and to impose a small penalty, such as a £5 fine, on them was to make a mockery of the law. They merely laughed at it, and went ahead.

Mr. H. T. Morton (Opp., Waitemata) suggested it would be wiser to have

three men as l licensing authority instead of one, and also three as an appeal authority instead of one. H? thought there were still vast supplies in the west coast waters of the North Island. On the whole he thought the Minister was to be congratulated on the attempt being made to put order into a most important and essential industry.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry said he was glad to see the Marine Department was attacking enthusiastically the problem of fish conservation. .He thought that if the fish were given a chance to spawn in, say, the next 3 to 4 years, supplies would increase out of sight. He suggested there was a need for an adequate system for farming oysters and so increasing the supplies. Mr. O’Brien, replying, thanked lhe House for the kind reception given the Bill. He said the numerous helpful suggestions offered would receive consideration.

8111 was a second tim<=». The House rose at 10.52 p.m. until 2 3C p.m. to-morrow.