FISH FOR HOSPITALS

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21752, 11 June 1942, Page 4

FISH FOR HOSPITALS

REGULATIONS CRITICISED “The Government’s futile and ridiculous regulations are to blame,” said Mr N. H. Beatson (Kawhia) at today’s meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board when reference was made to lecent difficulty in obtaining sufficient supplies of fresh fish for the Waikato and Rotorua Hospitals. The chairman, Mr F. Findlay, had explained that the contractors for supplying fish had written pointing out that owing to Army demands there might be difficulty in filling the re-j quirements of the institutions. The! difficulty, said Mr Findlay, had been straightened out, and there was no 1 reason to expect curtailment of supplies. Mr J. Banks (Rotorua) suggested : that if there were difficulty in getting fish from the contractors there might be other sources of supply, for instance at Tauranga, where one day he had seen three tons of fish being sent to Rotorua for private sale. Only One License Mr Beatson said Kawhia fish was sent to Hamilton and Te Awamutu for private sale, but what he criticised was the restriction imposed by the Government. Only one fisherman was licensed at Kawhia to sell fish, yet there were hundreds of tons of fish to be caught every week there. The fisherman was exempted from military service, and other people were forbidden to sell commercially. He termed the position “absolutely astounding” and suggested a letter to the Minister of Health. Mr V. W. Simms (Otorohanga) said he heartily agreed that the position was ridiculous and should not be tolerated. Mrs H. C. Ross said sick people i should have preference even * over the Army for supplies of fish. Another Harbour Mr H. W. Wilson (Raglan) said Kawhia v/as not the only harbour teeming with fish. He could name another close to Hamilton, where no difficulty would be experienced in getting adequate supplies of fish if fishermen were not restricted. Mr D. B. Livingstone agreed that there was far too much regulation. Fish should be plentiful in every part of New Zealand, and at a price within the reach of everybody. Members present were Messrs F. Findlay (chairman), J. Price, D. B. Livingstone, S. C. B. Macky, T. Hinton, H. W. Wilson, A. E. Missen, A. Blackman, W. Morrice, N. H. Beatson, J. Banks, V. W. Simms, W. T. Eyre, G. Smith, J. M. Stewart and Mrs H. C. Ross.