The Herring Bill , Five months have elapsed since the
Sea Fish Com- mission made its report on the herring industry, and it is therefore necessary, in view of the desperate plight of the fishermen, that the Herring Industry Bill should be pushed through Parliament quickly. The Government proposes to set up a Board of nominated members, as suggested by the Commission, but departs from its recommendations in leaving it to the Board to prepare its own scheme of reorganization and regulation. It offers a grant of money and borrowing powers on a slightly reduced scale, but otherwise in conformity with the report. The fund at the disposal .of the Board will enable it to lend money for the much-needed work of building or re-conditioning boats, and perhaps paying compensation for boats that may be scrapped. It has to be recognized that the first tasks of the Board will be that of cutting down with a view to avoiding a glut of fish and enabling men engaged in fishing to earn a fair living. Reduction first—expansion, it is hoped, afterwards—the latter being possible with better curing, better marketing, and better arrangements with foreign consumers.
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