MUNICIPAL MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1917, Page 2

MUNICIPAL MARKETS

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION

AT MEETING OF WOMEN'S SOCIAL

INVESTIGATION LEAGUE.

The Women's Social Investigation League iield a meeting in, the*" Victoria, Coilege Gymnasium last'night. Interesting addresses on the subject of municipal markets were delivered by Messrs. J. Huteheson and M. J. Real-don. Mr. Hutcheson stated that the present time of stress and hardship was an excellent on© for the creating of municipal markets. The benefit of such-markets to the community would, in his opinion, repay those interested for the work done. The speaker showed that markets had been the rale in almost- every town since the beginning of time. People could see what they were buying, and'knew it to be fresh, because the producer found that it did not pay to keep his goods for long. However, things had been changed to a great extent by the refrigerator; there was; now no such thing as a, perishable product, and as a result there was not the absolute necessity for quick sale. When Wellington was founded a piece of land was; set saide for a market, but this 'had been built on and lent out on a long lease. It was thus impossible to utilise this ground, and it was suggested that an excellent site for the purpose was. to the west of Clyde-quay yards, where a sufficiently large area could be obtained. It was not thought that the average housewife of Wellington would be anxious .to go to the market and carry home a lai-ge /quantity of produce every day. Custom was too strong; the tradespeople had called'at her back door ©very day and a departure from that would not be easy. A further disadvantage was the configuration of this city. Hill climbing with a load was not tho easiest thing after housework in the morning. It was undoubted that the chief gainers by a municipal system of markets would be those who lived in boarding-houses, and those who siad their meals at restaurants. These formed a very large section of the community, and they would benefit to a great extent. The city milk supply was criticised, andi it was thought that the supply could well be handled by the council. Mr. Hutcheson spoke of the fish supply, and in the course of, interesting remarks, on the. suburban fisheries and the waste of fish products and the deterioration of fish by .the time it reached the city. Oils and other products from fish waste would prove a source of revenue to the country if proper means were taken to produce them. Municipally sold fish /would benefit the community and would be welcomed by all. ,

In Mr. Beardon's opinion private interests should not be allowed to interfere with.. public matters. At the present time the question of "would it pay ?" was placed before' the question " Would it. do the . community, good ?" He tfliought that, when the railway facilities were reorganised in the city, and the new station built, the site of the Te Aro Railway Station "would be an excellent one for markets Goods could be taken on a single line overnight and sold fresh. -Sometimes, he stated, at present foodstuffs are kept for more than -a week and then offered as fresh. Municipal markets would be the only thing to change the present order, and "guarantee wholesome food to all.