§ Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the 1951 Report of the Director of Fisheries at Singapore, where a decrease in the number of Malay fishermen and an increase in the number of Chinese are recorded; what steps are being taken by the Government to assist the Malay fishermen; what loans have been made for modern equipment; and what steps have been taken to assist Malay fishermen in the formation of marketing co-operatives.
§ 4. Mr. Lyttelton,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th February, 1953, Vol. 511, c. 2091], supplied the following information:
Assistance given to the Fishing Industry of Singapore
Government assistance is not restricted to any specific race but is freely available to all fishermen. The rising demand for fresh fish has called for the provision of special facilities for those fishermen who wish to extend their operations from the fully exploited inshore fishing grounds into the untapped fisheries in the adjacent seas; nevertheless, the peculiar position of the conservative Chinese and Malay fishermen is recognised and they are being helped to adapt themselves to changing conditions.
The following are among the measures at present in operation.
Fisheries Loans Board
A fund of $400,000 (about £47,000) has been established by the Government of Singapore to provide loans to established fishermen wishing to extend operations into the offshore fisheries. Sixteen loans totalling approximately £31,500 have been sanctioned to date. (It is regretted that, in general, the Malay fishermen have not taken advantage of this facility and only three of the loans, amounting to about £300, relate to Malay operatives.)Fishing Materials Supply Service
A fishing materials purchase account established in 1951 enables the Fisheries Division to introduce improved equipment and to maintain stocks of scarce materials for resale to the fishermen. In addition to the improved types of lines, nets and net preservatives, etc., 40 outboard engines were supplied to inshore fishermen during the 48W early stages of the mechanisation of the near-water drift-net fleet when such engines were in short supply.Government Fishing Unit
This Government-operated unit was established in 1952 to carry out experimental and exploratory fishing with the object of demonstrating the advantages of modern equipment and the commercial possibilities offered by the use of fishing methods at present unknown in the Colony. It is intended to utilise this unit for instructional purposes in due course.Technical Advisory Services
These are provided by the Fisheries Division and in particular attention has been paid to the mechanisation of vessels, the utilisation of power and the use of improved gear preservatives, etc.Apart from the above-mentioned assistance, approval has been given for the establishment of a mobile training unit which will provide demonstrational instruction in the operation, maintenance and repair of engines employed in fishing boats.At present there are no fish marketing co-operatives in Singapore but the Government of Singapore is considering the establishment of a wholesale fish marketing scheme for the Colony. This will include specific arrangements for the small fishermen and has been designed to retain the direct producer-retailer outlets which have developed in a number of places within the island. Seven co-operative thrift societies are active in the fishing villages of the Colony of Singapore.There are no Chinese members in these societies and fishermen of this race have shown no interest in this form of activity. The following table illustrates the position on 31st December, 1952:
Number of Societies Membership Net Savings Fishermen Others Total 7 635* 337* 972 $35,788 * Estimated. These societies are organised and supervised by the Department of the Co-operative Development.Following a visit by the Adviser on Cooperative Affairs to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in February, 1953, the question of the establishment of fishing co-operatives with a wider scope of activities and membership is being considered.49WDuring 1952 there has been an increase in the number of fishermen engaged in the
— Chinese Malay Indians Others Total 1951 1952 1951 1952 1951 1952 1951 1952 1951 1952 1. Fishermen employing non-powered vessels … 1,577 1,738 1,228 1,045 7 4 — — 2,812 2,787 2. Crew and fishermen on powered vessels: (a) Inboard … 1,414 857 84 68 — 1 2 1 1,500 927 (b) Outboard … 105 474 73 295 1 — 1 — 180 769 3. Prawn pond fishermen … 141 169 — 3 — — — — 141 172 Total … 3,237 3,238 1,385 1,411 8 5 3 1 4,633 4,655 The increase from 4,633 to 4,655 does not, however, reflect the true position. It will be seen that, according to the statistics, the number of Chinese and Malay fishermen employed on powered vessels fell from 1,414 to 857 and 84 to 68 respectively. This decrease is apparent only, not real, and results from an improvement in the system of maintaining records relating to powered boats. The increase in both Chinese and Malay fishermen is significant and reflects a movement of manpower into the industry as a result of the better returns obtained during the year.