PUBLIC MARKETS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1933, Page 5

PUBLIC MARKETS

PROPOSAL TO COUNCIL MIXED RECEPTION COMMITTEE SET VP A proposal made by the health committee that the council should appoint a special committee to consider the question of establishing a central market'in the city for tho sale of fruit, vegetables, and other commodities, gave rise to some discussion at last night's meeting of the City Council, and finally was referred back to a special committee. Councillor M. F. Luckie said that tho council had, wisely, kept apart from entering into competition with traders, and everyone knew that today small traders were having a hard enough time to make a living at all. The council was opening, up a wide question without giving it adequate consideration. The chairman of tho committee, Councillor ■C. H. Chapman, M.P., said that the proposal was the outcome of the action taken by the ( council some months ago in deciding that tho Indian fruit sellers should gO from the city streets—incidentally reducing the city revenue by about £2000 per year. The question was: then raised in the committee whether there was any site available where. a market place could be set aside where the fruit sellers and others could offer, their commodities at, presumably, reasonable prices. The clause did not commit the council in any way, and when tho sub-committee proposed brought down its report the question could be discussed and a decision taken. He suggested that the subcommittee should consist of himself, as mover, and Councillors Butler, Duncan, Gaudin, and Brindle. -. Councillor T. Forsyjh said that it appeared that the committee had not given the matter any serious consideration. The committee should itself decide whether the idea was worth going into beforo bringing the matter before the council. He moved an amendment that the clause should be referred back to the committee. . The Mayor, Mr. T. 0. A. Hislop, agreed with this view and seconded the amendment. Councillor T, Brindle said that many market gardeners would, like, the opportunity of selling their produce in an open area in the city. They would be able to sell their goods -more cheaply and they .themselves would make a better profit. '. That was another aspect of the question., He wished to make it plain that the. whole matter arose out of the- prohibition, of fruit stands. A market place- would cost the city nothing, and possibly something would be made out of.it. , By the .prohibition of the street stands, said. Councillor P. M. Butler, the City Council had lost revenue amounting-to £2000 a year. At the same time the door had been left open to hawkers to cart produce through the city in old barrows, resulting in a congestion of the thoroughfares. The traffic inspectors could not cope.with ihem. He was surprised .at the crocodile tears shed,by some councillors for private enterprise, because under present conditions small retailers^ in shops were facing very solid competition. The proposal would give small retailers an opportunity of making a living. He opposed the amendment. Since the disappearance of the fruit stands, it was contended fruit could not be bought as cheaply. If there were a municipal market of the description suggested everyone' would have a fair T v n —the retailer^.the, : council,., and: $he consumer; ■' '"— ... The amendment wa3 lost and the committee,-as proposed, Was agreed to.