AGY-7720 | Fish Industry Co-operative Advisory Committee

Full description

The Fish Industry Co-operative Advisory Committee was formed on 16 January 1950 under section 114C of the Co-operatives Act 1923-1949 (Act No.1, 1924) (as amended by the Co-operation (Amendment) Act 1949 (Act No.41, 1949). It was formed to advise on problems affecting the fishing industry. (1)

Under section 114C of the Co-operation Act 1923-1949 the Advisory Council constituted by section 114 could constitute a co-operative advisory committee in respect of societies, including trade societies. (2)

The main groups of fish producers were the steam and seine trawler owners, the fishermen's co-operative societies and individual fishermen numbering about 600, along with two private companies, Red Trawlers Pty Ltd and Cam and Sons Pty Ltd, which operated steam trawlers. (3)

The Regulations under the Co-operation Act 1923-1949 were amended to include reference to the Fish Industry Co-operative Advisory Committee and regulations relating to notice of meeting, quorum, minutes, confirmation of minutes, fees and travelling expenses. (4)

At its first meeting the Committee decided to recommend to the Minister that the Governor's approval be obtained for the trading societies below to establish, control and operate markets for the sale of fish. The trading societies were:
Bermagui Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Byron Bay Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Clarence River Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Eden Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Hastings River Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Laurieton Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Macleay River District Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Nambucca Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Newcastle Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Nowra Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Palm Beach and District Fishermen's Co-operative Limited
Richmond District Fishermen's Co-operative Limited,
Tuggerah District Fishermen's Co-operative Limited, and
Wallis Lake Fishermen's Co-operative Society Limited. (5)

The last known minutes of the Advisory Committee are dated 19 July 1950. (6)

Two factions had formed on the Advisory Committee, being the representatives of the steam and seine trawler owners, and the co-operative societies. The Advisory Committee disbanded by 20 May 1954 when the factions reached a deadlock. (7)

Endnotes
1. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 17 June 1950, p.2.
2. Co-operation Act 1923-1949, s.114C.
3. Sydney Morning Herald, 20 May 1954, p.2.
4. NSW Government Gazette No.72, 5 May 1950, pp.1234-1235.
5. Minutes of the Committee, 16 January 1950.
6. Minutes of the Committee, 19 July 1950.
7. Sydney Morning Herald, 20 May 1954, p.2.