H.—44a.

Kaikoura. Fishermen at Kaikoura, who forward all their catches to the auction-market at Christ-church submitted representations to the Committee expressing dissatisfaction upon several matters affecting their industry. The main allegations were :— (1) Full weights not accounted for. (2) The demand for " prime " fish in Christchurch is affected by the quantities of " rough " fish coming oil to the market. (3) The effect upon auction prices of catches from trawlers controlled by Messrs. P. Feron and Son., Ltd. (4) The wide spread between returns to fishermen and retail prices. The same allegations were made in all other centres where similar conditions prevailed. All these matters are dealt with elsewhere in this report. In Kaikoura Messrs. P. Feron and Son, Ltd., have cool-storage accommodation similar to that in limaru, but m the case of Kaikoura a charge of 7J per cent, on selling-price at auction is made for storing and cooling. This amount is high compared with the charge of only 6d. per case in Timaru and appears to call for some justification. Grey mouth. The main supply into Greymouth comes from two trawlers which were operated by the late Mr. George Scandrett. With adverse _ weather conditions for fishing the supply is not by any means steady, and, although an attempt is made to keep a week's supply in cool storage, at times fish is of necessity drawn from Christchurch. Alternatively, in times of good supply certain quantities are forWa J w i by auction m Christchurch. From Greymouth distribution is effected to both Hokitika and Westport, wholesale prices for local and Hokitika requirements fluctuating in accordance with supplv and season and averaging between 3d. and 6d. per pound for hapuka, 3Jd. for soles, and 3d. for gurnard In Westport, Mr. Scandrett supplied his own shop. There are three retail-shops in Greymouth, all of which keep retail prices as steady as possible. ST usua % ls - 6 s - to 2s - P er bundle of soles (threekrge or five small ones, uncleaned) averaging 3d. to 4d. per pound, 7d. per pound for soles headed, cleaned, and skinned, 6d. for groper, and Bd. for best-quality fish such as brill and turbot. With limited supply and limited turnover these prices are considered very reasonable. A fair quantity of fish is sold on the wharf when the boats come in this being mamly bundles of soles at ls. 6d. per bundle. Some little disturbance to the regular trade is caused by part-time fishermen selling hapuka on the fishing vessels aMoUgil ° osts much more tian tMs when cau gtt by full-time The Committee's attention was directed to the necessity for a wider distribution of fish on the West Coast, it being suggested that m centres where there are no retail fish-shops storekeepers ought to be encouraged to handle fish for sale, provided that they have proper facilities for storage under hygienic conditions. A case was instanced where m Greymouth a merchant acted as a distributor of oysters and smoked fish withouth having such proper facilities. Westport. The bulk of the fish taken at Westport is sold locally through four small shops, and any surplus which, once went to Wellington when there was a regular shipping service, is now forwarded for sale by auction at Christchurch Groper is sold wholesale at not above 4d., flat fish at approximately 3d and retail prices are generally on a par with those in Greymouth. '' Nelson. The one wholesaler in Nelson handles over half the supply coming into this port, but although his prices to the fishermen fluctuate m some degree they remain fairly constant at the levels shown in Appendix E. His wholesale prices are approximately 10 per cent, on the prices paid to the fishermen P rl< ?® 8 ar ® a ! so f lown ln Appendix E, and a comparison of these with the price paid to the fishermen and the wholesale price shows that they are no more thaii reasonable after taking wastage and distribution expenses into account. s ana In Nelson there is one wet-fish shop and six shops combining the retailing of wet and cooked fish with the management of restaurants. All retailers buy through the local wholesaler, except one who draws supplies direct from one fisherman at approximately the customary price paid by the wholesaler. One retailer delivers as far as Murchison and supplies the intervening districts. Complaints were made by some of the fishermen that the wholesaler in Nelson with the onlv coolstorage chambers available for the storage of fish was not working harmoniously with certain of those engaged m the industry. Some lme-fishermen have been refused space for the storage of bait Fishermen of course have the option of shipping their catches to Wellington to the auction-market or to the to thTse markets 11 1 wholesale establishment itself in times of oversupply also ships Fishermen lodged their objections to payment for snapper by the dozen and crayfish by the count maintaining that all payments should be on a basis of weight.

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