Tuesday, April 25, 1967

labs, of Charlottetown and Halifax to produce a finished product within maximum bacteria limits have been in vain.

Aluminum boxes used on the boats for fish storage have proven superior to icing in pens only during periods of poor fishing, when ample time and care is taken in regards to icing, gutting and washing, during periods of heavy fishing when fishermen are inclined to be a bit careless a serious problem is encountered and on December 23rd 90 per cent of the trip of 90,000 lbs. was found unfit for human con-

sumption. These boxes are very costly to buy, handle, wash and store.

Another blunder is the use of a red sealer in washing cod and flounders. The rough treatment encountered by this method defeats the very purpose on the difficulty and costly use of boxes, also the water wasted as compared to a con- ventional type washer would flume an approved line.

The firing of a very competent shore skipper, over a minor incident. was also very deterimental to this plant, having only myself experienced in grading fish for payment to fishermen.

Other mistakes made by people who only pretend to know the business in- clude for instance:

Large stainless steel freezer racks built upside down. Stainless steel freezer trays ordered on dimensions from production manager, too deep and unable to produce a satisfactory block until corrected by returning them to Fairy Aviation.

This Company produces most of its cod fish in blocks thinking that they are showing a larger production per day which is not necessarily true: 5 lb. packs can be produced as fast as 17% 1b. blocks. 5 lb. packs are in greater demand and are worth as much as ten cents more per lb. on the Boston market. Also steak cod which are paid 36 cent per lb. more to fishermen than the markets are produced onI in blocks. Other plants in the Maritimes produce steak cod in various other pac s which command a much higher price than blocks.

In respect to the transportation of fish in aluminum boxes from Shelburne, N.S., to Georgetown, P.E.I., it. does not appear economically feasible. Visualize the cost per season in boxes and is alone, not including the fish. Also note that fish transported from Shelborne to Georgetown are being taken further away from the markets in order to be processed.

This Company implies that it has taken these measures in order to create employment in P.E.I. It appears like further good money being thrown after bad and can only say that the only apparent solution would be to entice a large reliable company to replace the present one. Such a company would be capable of operating at a profit. This would be the greater assurance of employment and increased prosperity for P.E.I.

This report is hereby submitted trusting that it will be treated with your utmost discretion.

MERRIL HARRIS."

Several statements have been made in this House by members of the opposi- tion with reference to the Government’s approach to the financial problems of the Georgetown industries. I should like to deal with three of these statements at this time. Honourable members opposite have stated that this Government has failed to negotiate with various parties for the past six months with serious intentions of rc-opening the plants. I wish to make it very clear that strenuous efforts have been made by the Premier and the members of the Government to find long range solutions to the problems.

The Government negotiated with Mr. Moe and with the W. R. Grace Company of New York for a period of five months and, unfortunately, the final decision given to the Company by the S. R. Grace Company in this telegram and following letter of December 30th was that, even assuming Government financial participation of 50% to provide Gulf Garden Foods Limited with $1,200,000, the

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