PUBLIC MARKETS,

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 61, 9 September 1905, Page 14

PUBLIC MARKETS,

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I see there has been some correspondence in your paper re a produce market in Wellington. I have read with interest the' remarks of our South African friends, and it seems they have the lead of New Zealand in these matters. In nearly all European countries and colonies I believe there are public markets, either municipal or otherwise, and sometimes sales take place on the public streets during regulated, hours. Now, as far as I can see, the small farmer or market gardener's position is about on a. par with the racing system or a lottery. He grows produce or food, and can never be certain of • getting a living price for it. I think the greatness of a country depends upon its small farmers. These are the people who are or ought to be leading the simple or country life. Their families, with a few sensible ideas of health, an agricultural education, and practice with drill and rifle, like the Boer farmers, would be the backbone of the country in every sense of the term. But first of all they must be sure of a market for their produce a£ a living rate, or the whole superstructure falls to the ground. They are off to tho town or elsewhere, where wages are more certain, and they can live, even if they do not get' all the luxuries of life. For under present conditions it is considered a crime if one has no money, although he may have chosen that better ' part which no man can take away. A' public market is wanted by producers, and I believe one under municipal management, as described by our South African friends, would' work out besb'to all. It is well v known in this district that Chinamen control tho market, especially if there is a fair supply of a certain class of produce. Some say theyi control the auctioneers as well. , If there was a public market Chinamen would be the first to go. They have generally come to the conclusion that it pays better to buy at auction and sell through shops, etc., than to be producers. They are leaving producing and consuming to the white man, and getting fat by the exchanging of the , goods. Their shops remind one of the Eeer shops in the Old Country towns — every third one a Chinaman's, and sometimes two together. Now, speaking generally, they have to pay 25 per cent, more rent -than the white man, and have an •old place which no one else would rent. They buy in groups or l together, and use the mutual aid ideasl There is often no competition at all at the sales. The present auctioneers could help the producers somewhat, if they extended the present market price system which they have for some classes of produce to all classes, and of course make the prices so that producers could live. Now the housewife 6r consumer receives little if any benefit from a glut in the market. The shopkeeper gets, fattest, when prices are lowest. No .doubt shop rents are high — they always will be while it pays better to be an exchanger rather than a producer. Of course, some people will 6ay that producers get more than their fair share. I believe that is so in certain cases, but seldom, if ever, of the man in the small way. The, large runholders and' men in larger ways' of dealing have shares in the selling concerns, and make two profits — | one on the producing and one on the selling of fheir produce, to say nothing of profit on the selling of the small man's. It is generally admitted that it is small holders that this colony wants. I believe the Ballance-Seddon Government has done a great deal to make conditions favourable to them. But it is as necessary for the people who produce tho food of the towns here to be able to make a living wage as it is for those who send produce beyond tho colony. They say charity begins at home. I think it must be clear to everyone that the small farmer should have a steady market, and if private enterprise cannot provide it, then the municipalities or the Government must lead the way. I think Trades Councils and Labour candidates for municipal office might with benefit to themselves take this matter up. — I am, etc., H. MARTIN. Epuni Hamlet, 7th September.