Fish Selling In Kaitaia Streets

Northern Advocate, 14 February 1940, Page 2

Fish Selling In Kaitaia Streets

A complaint that fish were being sold from a motor vehicle in „ the street opposite their business premises was made by Messrs Vegear Bros., restaurant proprietors, in a letter to the Kaitaia Town Board on Monday evening. They were ratepayers and the competition complained of was damaging to their business. The town clerk: Fish are perishable goods, and we can't interfere with the sale of fish, but we have notified itinerant vendors that no fish can be sold in the main street and that side streets only can be used. Mr McKinnon: Commerce Street is! a State highway, and the question is; Have we any jurisdiction? Mr Archibald complained of cars being parked for long periods and blocking the entrances to shops. Mr Thompson said it was entirely wrong that a man should be allowed to come into the town and sell fish from a vehicle in competition with a ratepayer. Mr McKinnon said it was a matter of by-laws. The board's by-laws were very much out-of-date. Mr Mclntosh said the only satisfactory way in which residents could obtain fish was from a vehicle in the street. Restaurant-keepers were not in the true sense of the word fish vendors. They served meals and sold cooked fish. The town was not adequately served with fish deliveries. The town clerk: Messrs Vegear Bros, purchase some of their supplies from the man who also sold retail in the. street. Mr Thompson: There would he no objection to selling from house to house, but selling from a stand in the street was a different, matter. Mr Mclntosh moved that the matter be referred to the board's solicitor for an opinion, and this was carried.