11,— 44a.

Gisborne. 12. That the parties concerned in Gisborne be approached by a representative of the Marine Department or the Department of Industries and Commerce, with a view to providing adequate supplies of fish for country retail delivery. Auckland and Thames. 13. That the number of wholesale markets be reduced in Auckland to more economical proportions by the elimination of all except two or three of the existing distributors. These will then require reconstruction in their constitution and organization. 14. That the units falling out of the wholesale trade receive some sort of compensation from those remaining, or, alternatively, that they be merged under some agreed-upon arrangement. _ 15 That the remaining units (two or three in number, as the case may be) be compelled to unify their activities to the greatest possible extent. 16. That the four Thames markets merge their interests and operate as one unit, upon a basis to be determined after further investigation and consultation. 17. That the wholesale price of snapper and tarakihi, john-dory, and kingfish (green) be reduced to retailers in Auckland City and suburbs by |d. per pound forthwith, and if recommendations Nos. 10 to 13 above are implemented, then the position to be reviewed in due course with the object of a further reduction being made. (Note.—ln view of the position of the trade in Thames, no immediate reduction of a like nature is suggested.) 18. That the wholesalers' margin between the price paid to the fishermen for rough fish and their price to retailers be narrowed, so as to provide some advance to the fishermen and some reduction to the retailer—basis of discussion for settlement to be fd. per pound to the fishermen and l|d. per pound local wholesale for both gurnard and trevally (green weights). (Note.—Thames is already paying the fishermen fd. per pound for gurnard.) 19. That all wet fish handled at Auckland and Thames be sold upon a basis of weight. 20. That the position in regard to all supplies of fish be safeguarded, in order to ensure that local requirements are fully catered for in priority to those of export. 21. That where reputable markets are established all fish to be distributed through such markets, except in instances where on or before the 31st December, 1937, retailers were drawing supplies from fishing-vessels owned by them. Auckland Retail. 22. That all wet fish sold retail must be sold by weight. 23. That if and when (in accordance with recommendations Nos. 17 and 18) a reduction in local wholesale prices is effected to Auckland City and suburban retailers, the retail price in turn is to be reduced proportionately. 24. That protection be afforded individual retailers against unfair competition from wholesalers' retail shops in the matter of supplies and freedom of buying. Wellington. 25. That the wholesale piice of tarakihi (both wet and smoked) be reduced in Wellington from 4d. per pound gutted to 3fd. per pound gutted, and from lOd. per pound for smoked fillets to 9d. per pound for smoked fillets. (Note. —One wholesaler in a small way is already selling the smoked fillets at 9d. per pound.) If this recommendation is implemented, then a relative reduction in the retail price of this fish must be effected. 26. That the system of sale by auction in Wellington be abolished. Southland: Dredge Oysters. 27. That steps be taken to bring about a co-operative system of handling and marketing dredge oysters: This could be arranged through a company already in existence but not functioning—-i.e., the New Zealand Oyster Distributing Co., Ltd. or by the setting-up of a central organization with similar objects and vested with power to control handling and marketing and fix prices f.0.r., Bluff. 28. Thau oysters be packed for sale in sacks of a standard size and containing a standard weight or volume of oysters. 29. That encouragement be given to experiments being made for transporting shucked or opened oysters, say, to Wellington, with the object of eliminating to some extent the relatively high transport costs to the mors distant centres of distribution. 30. That the operations of concerns which are preparing medicinal preparations from dredge oysters be confined to within reasonable limits in the matter of supplies of their raw material. TRANSPORT AND SHIPPING. The Committee is convinced that any substantial expansion of fish-consumption in New Zealand is dependent upon the provision of faster and more convenient railway services and of reduced freightage rates. The general feeling was expressed by witnesses that considerably more fish would be in the rural districts if assistance on these lines were given. It was stated that inconvenient time-tables, and sometimes the refusal of carriage on express trains had the effect of disorganizing silfpfe through late delivery to auctions and shops, of waste through loss of ice, and of injury to fisherWMi Who frequently cannot land their catches in time for despatch by the first train available. It is apparent that for these reasons there is a loss of some business to the Railways Department. The speedy delivery of fish in a good condition is so essential as to require the immediate attention of the Railways Department on the problems mentioned.

68