Norwegian Fishermen (1936)

Brochure written by Dr. Lunde, published by Nasjonal Samling in 1936.

By Dr. Gulbrand Lunde.

There is no country in Europe where the fishing industry plays such a large role in the economy as in Norway. The majority of our coastal population, especially in northern Norway, either live by fishing or are economically linked to the fishing industry. Despite Norway's low population compared to many other European countries, there is nowhere where such large quantities of fish are landed as in Norway. This large amount of fish is largely exported, and fishing is therefore our second largest export industry.

One would think that politicians, given the great importance of fishing to the country and the many fishermen and manufacturers who make a living in this industry, would particularly strive to support the fishing industry and improve its conditions. But the opposite is the case. Despite the demanding and dangerous profession of fishermen, we see how our fishermen often live in very cramped conditions. It has even been said that fishing is the pure welfare system.

What is the reason for this?

If we look at the prices paid to the fishermen, i.e. the first-hand value of the fish, this is the lowest in Europe. In Norway, there is nowhere else where the first-hand value of fish is even close to as low as here. In 1923, the average price for all saltwater fish in Norway was 8 öre per kilo! In Sweden it was 29 öre, in Denmark 39 öre, in Holland 22 öre, in Great Britain 32 öre and in Germany 25 öre. It is especially the extremely low price of herring and cod that is the reason. During the same year, the average price in Norway for herring was 5 öre and for cod 10 öre. In Sweden the price was 17 and 25 öre respectively, in Denmark 20 and 19 öre respectively, and in the other countries the prices were correspondingly higher.

Even if we take into account the extraordinarily rich catches, especially of herring and cod off the Norwegian coast, it is clear that the Norwegian fishermen cannot live with these prices under such economic, social and cultural conditions as they are rightfully entitled to.

If we are to search for the reasons for this mismatch, we must first of all look for them in the political outlook on society which has been decisive for bourgeois and Marxist party politics.

The bourgeois politics has built on liberalism, on the unrestricted freedom of the individual in society. It regards human labor as a commodity. This has led to unemployment and to economic difficulties for large parts of the population, and especially for the fishermen, who have been left behind in the "struggle for existence" so praised by the bourgeois parties. Liberalism's motto of "freedom at any price" has led to a fight of all against all, while that. natural would be to create cooperation between all compatriots.

The crisis in fisheries and agriculture is primarily the result of party politicians' mismanagement. It cannot be solved only by economic measures, but by a completely new policy based on cooperation between all professions.

The Marxist so-called Workers' Party is trying to exploit the crisis for its own purposes. The Labor Party promises the fishermen better conditions and engages in whale fishing with promises of government support and minimum prices, distribution of crisis grants, cheap loans, etc. But behind all these gilded promises are laughs. The true essence of the Labor Party is Marxism. In the Labor Party's work programme, reference is made explicitly to the program of principles, which clearly and unequivocally advocates Marxism.

The Norwegian fisherman is a freeholder.

The Norwegian fishermen are actually in a special position compared to fishermen in the rest of Europe. Due to the special conditions in Norway, they are individual entrepreneurs, unlike fishermen in other countries who are mostly employed workers in well-capitalized fishing companies.

Despite this, today we see that the fishermen listen with interest to the agitation and the golden promises of Marxist party politicians. This is due to the desperate situation our fishermen have gradually found themselves in.

The old bourgeois party-political government has neither the ability nor the power to solve the problem that is increasingly forcing itself upon us, namely:

an orderly collaboration between all professions in society, where the fishing industry is also included as a natural link.

As the various professions in society have developed and people have specialized, the need for professional organizations (guilds) has become more and more necessary to create orderly conditions.

The Norwegian Fishermen's Association.

The fishermen themselves have gradually formed their own fishing teams, totaling approximately 450 teams, which are united under Norway’s Fishermen’s Association. These associations operate independently of the state. Additionally, there are several other professional organizations within the fishing industry. What all these professional bodies share is a lack of direct influence on the government. Decisions related to industrial policy are made by unqualified and non-professional individuals in the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament). Meanwhile, the professional groups created by fishermen—similarly to other professions in the country—must navigate various channels to have their demands addressed.

The Marxist Labor Party has exploited this lack of understanding regarding the importance of business organizations’ influence on politics. They have made promises to advance workers’ interests, effectively coercing workers’ unions into dependence on the Marxist political system. Now, the Norwegian Labor Party aims to employ the same strategy with fishermen’s and farmers’ professional organizations, as well as farmers’ and fishermen’s associations, in their pursuit of absolute power within society.

But Norwegian fishermen must remember that fishermen’s associations, dependent on Marxist politicians, will not necessarily promote the interests of the fishermen. On the contrary, these organizations may become tools for the Marxists to manipulate and control the fishermen. Such a path could lead toward a communist state resembling the Soviet Russian model, where fishermen’s associations are transformed into forced entities serving state capitalist exploitation. This outcome could be even more detrimental than what might occur in a private capitalist society.

The rescue of fishermen from economic hardship and coercive Marxist rule can only happen through a new national and socially constructive policy.

We must build our society on national grounds, on the ethical and moral basic values of the people, on property rights and freedom, home and religion and trade unions.

The solidarity of the whole people.

The new era requires the recognition that there is something that stands above the individual and his special interests, something that stands above the parties, groups, the special interests of the individual professions and parts of the country, and that is the welfare of the whole people.

Our people are a unit and we are connected through our common ancestry, history and culture.

And this entire people's solidarity must be organized so that all the different professions can be catered for in social life. It is necessary to take the consequences of the development which requires a solution, also political, of the question of the organization of the professions.

Norway's professional Riksting.

It is therefore stated in NS' programme, point 2:

«The cultural life of the nation and its livelihood to be organized in self-governing bodies and associations (guilds that form a link between the individual and the state, under the control of the state). These to be the links between the individual and the State, and controlled by the latter.»

The fishermen must then also send their representatives to this national industry committee, chosen by the fishermen's associations in a number that corresponds to the importance of the fisheries in the country.

Such a business entity will ensure professional influence and professional insight into governance and management and will replace the unhealthy party politics and bourgeois parliamentarism, which today goes by the name of democracy (people's government), but which in reality is anything but people's government. It is a pure dictatorship and a system that prevents the influence of skilled professionals in the government.

Nasjonal Samling supports the Norwegian Fishermen's Association's work programme.

The Norwegian Fishermen's Association has drawn up a work programme, which highlights the most important requirements necessary for the fishermen to have livable conditions. Nasjonal Samling will support these requirements. But Nasjonal Samling goes further than this programme. Because we want to give the fishermen the political influence, which they have a rightful claim to, and which is necessary to be able to carry out the fishermen's association's programme, and not leave its implementation to inexperienced party politicians.

In the new business association, the fishermen's associations will have their direct representatives who can meet the fishermen's demands.

The Nasjonal Samling's program on fisheries.

In NS's programme, point 17, it says:

«Fishermen are supported by means of organized cooperation, by working for better fish products, better organized exports, increased domestic sales, modernization of storage methods and transport, as well as debt arrangements and an easier transition for fishermen to agriculture. The guarding against foreign trawlers is done effectively.»

This entry in NS's program is in strict accordance with Norway's Fiskar team's work programme. If the fishermen are to get livable conditions, the first-hand price of the fish must be raised. This can only happen through a better organization of exports and domestic sales, as well as energetic work being undertaken to modernize storage methods and transport through the construction of modern fishing harbors with cooling facilities and industrial facilities for the processing of the fish (freezers, dryers, canning factories).

In this field, research must start. NS therefore also requires in its programme, point 23, that

research institutes and vocational schools are to be expanded.

Among these vocational schools are also fisheries schools with special education for fishermen, manufacturers, etc. Overall, the Nasjonal Samling requires:

".Better school education in a shorter time with greater emphasis on character development, community spirit, physical development and practical life. An overall school plan with specialization according to the individual student's facilities and future plans, and according to society's needs. With scholarships, the state pays for the higher education of particularly gifted young people. Research institutes and vocational schools are being expanded." In point 23 of the programme.)

The increase in the price of our fish products, which can be achieved by improving quality, organization and increasing turnover, must primarily benefit the fishermen by increasing the first-hand value.

Age and disability benefits. Work — not benefits.

According to a nationwide work programme, Nasjonal Samling will abolish unemployment. It is therefore stated in point 12: "The welfare system is being changed as part of an overall planned social reform. Those who can work must not have any allowance, but must be offered work.” It is stated in point 20 of NS's program: "Child allowance is introduced and national insurance for the elderly and disabled." The limit for retirement pension must not be set higher than 60 years, and the size of the benefit must be such that sufficient and good livelihood and good housing conditions can be ensured.

Point 21 of the program also states:

"Public health is strengthened through better hygiene and better housing conditions, by combating alcohol abuse and improving healthy folk sports." There are too many places in our country where part of the population lives in unhealthy and poor housing and lives on a diet that is too meager and improperly composed, especially in the fishing districts in the northernmost part of the country, where vitamin-rich and nutritious food is required in the dark season diet.

Trade policy must take into account the interests of fisheries.

In accordance with the requirement for energetic work to increase the export of Norwegian fish products, Nasjonal Samling is in favor of increased exchange of goods with other countries and determined support for Norwegian measures abroad. This is stated in NS’s program, point 29:

"The trade policy must work in particular to provide the public household with a firm footing and to maintain exports and shipping. Goods that can be properly and adequately produced domestically must not be sourced from outside. Apart from this self-salvage, efforts are being made to increase the exchange of goods with other countries, if necessary on the basis of reciprocity.

Norwegian measures in foreign countries must have active and purposeful political support. Norway’s interests in the polar regions are asserted vigilantly and strongly."

All the program items mentioned here must be seen in the context of NS’s entire program and societal perception because they cannot be solved without a national policy.

The foreign trawlers’ assaults on the long-established Norwegian fishing banks along the coast are still ongoing. Is it right and reasonable for foreign trawlers to sweep up the fish just outside the living room door of the Norwegian fishermen and on their own well-established coastal banks?

The Norwegian Fishermen’s Association demands in its program that vigorous work be undertaken for a 12-mile limit for trawl fishing along the coast. NS will work for the nationalization of our coastal fishing banks right down to the bone. The old political parties, and least of all the Labor Party, have never found the will and power to protect the interests of the fishermen in this matter.

The polar trapping fields.

The Norwegian people are among the Nordic peoples who are needed the most in the north. In battle with the sea, the ice, and the darkness, the Norwegians have cleared and built the land, creating a way of life further north in the ice than any other people. We should have expected that politicians would see it as a major task to protect the efforts of Norwegian trappers and fishermen. However, everywhere we have witnessed how party politicians have been concerned only with promoting their parties’ and their own interests, neglecting and squandering what Norwegian explorers and trappers have achieved.

Year after year, Norway is pushed further and further back by the Soviet empire in the northern fishing grounds. The seal catch in Kvitsjøen will probably soon come to an end.

The old Norwegian territory of Frans Josef Land, discovered by the Norwegian skipper Rønnbeck, was declared Soviet-Russian land in 1928, despite the fact that only Norwegians have been fishing there. Yet, the party politicians have done nothing to safeguard Norway’s longstanding rights to these trapping fields. Neither Labor Party Minister Koht nor any of his predecessors have addressed the League of Nations regarding this abuse by the Soviet Union. In contrast, Mr. Koht was quick to condemn Italy’s actions in Ethiopia, even at the expense of Norwegian fishermen’s interests, advocating a policy of sanctions against Italy that resulted in an 8 million loss.

Greenland, which has strong Norwegian ties, faces a similar issue. The fishing banks in Greenland cannot be utilized by Norwegian fishermen and trappers, as they would have been if this historic Norwegian land had remained accessible to Norwegians. While large foreign fishing companies, backed by foreign financial capital, freely fish in Greenland, the independent Norwegian fishermen are barred from exploiting these fishing grounds in the same manner.

Betrayed by all the party political leaders.

But in the fight to secure this old country for Norwegian interests and measures, for Norwegian fishermen and trappers, we are witnessing how all party politicians, from the extreme right with Mr. Hambro in the lead to the leftist Labor Party with Nygaardsvold and Koht, deny Norwegian interests.

Mr. Hambro’s statement when Norwegian trappers occupied Eirik Raude’s (Eric the Red) Land was that he was glad not to be in Norway.

J. L. Mowinckel damaged the Greenland cause and exploited it for party political agitation, promoting a diplomat who had called the national cause a “dirty rag”!

Finally, the Labor Party stated in one of its newspapers during the Greenland negotiations that it hoped Norway would lose the case in The Hague. Its foreign minister, Koht, has stated that Norway should give up trying to regain the lost territories!

We also find similar non-national conditions in our politicians when it comes to our interests in the Antarctic and whaling. Yes, the Labor Party has even aligned with foreign imperialist policies, which entail a direct danger of war and the possibility that Norway will fall under Russian supremacy.

In contrast, Nasjonal Samling has taken a strong and determined approach to protect Norway’s neutrality, as well as the country’s freedom and peace.

The Norwegian people must become aware that it is the law of history that every nation must protect what it has built up, otherwise it will be lost.

The reason for our fishermen's and trappers' difficulties today can be found in the non-national politics pursued by the bourgeois parties and the Labor Party.

May the Norwegian people wake up in time and see the dangers that threaten, and advocate a national uprising and gathering across all parties, classes and parts of the country, a constructive Norwegian policy that will also implement the demands necessary to secure our fishermen's and trappers' efforts in the community:

1. An active national government independent of party politics.

2. Organization of the business world in self-governing legalized professional associations with ITM float on the state board.

3. Modernization of the fisheries. Organization of sales. Better processing of fishery products to raise the first-hand value of the fish.

4. Debt arrangement for the fishermen, land and credit support for the fishermen who want to farm.

5. Disability benefit and old-age benefit at the age of 60.

6. Protection of the family and home and better housing conditions.

7. Purposeful and energetic development of communications in Northern Norway.

8. The Norwegian fishermen's exclusive right to the coastal fishing banks is asserted.

9. Our foreign policy shall aim at asserting the interests of Norwegian fishermen and anglers on the fishing grounds in the Arctic and Antarctic.

10. Greenland Norwegian and open to Norwegian fishermen and trappers! WE ARE A KINGDOM. — WE SHOULD BECOME ONE PEOPLE.

Translated by LucciNation.