A MUNICIPAL FARM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8366, 28 February 1913, Page 4

A MUNICIPAL FARM

CHEAP FRUIT AKD VEGETABLES. After several adjournments extending over some weeks, Councillor Tregear was at last able to move at yesterday’s City Council meeting one of the motions ■ of which he had given notice: (1) That the council l should take into consideration the establishment of a municipal farm as a market garden in some adjacent country district. . (2) That this farm should be worked by elderly pr necessitous persons for whom other employment is difficult to obtain, and that this farm should supply, or partially supply. a municipal market for fruit and vegetables. . ' , ' Councillor Tregear said his motion had now been on the order-paper for some months, but ho had not before, had an opportunity of moving it. Even at the present meeting there wore oniy seven councillors present, which showed how much interest councillors 'as a whole took in the subject. His only recourse was to appeal to the press. The-carrying of his motion would not interfere with private enterprise. Govent Garden did not interfere with the shops in London. The principal involved in his motion ’ was similar to the State’s establishment of a fire insurance office,, to keep down the rates in the interests of the people, and would prevent rings and trusts in vegetables and fruit charging excessive prices or manipulating the market. The Mayor suggested that as the market committee was now going into the general question of markets, th© motion should be referred to that cpmmittee. Councillor Tregear agreed to delete, clause H of his motion, which was in its amended form seconded by Councillor Fletcher. I Councillor Fuller said it was not so much markets which they wanted but accommodation f° r P®°pte to exchange theft goods jn order to get over rings and trusts. Councillor Frost moved and Councillor • Godber seconded an amendment that the debate be adjourned owing to the small meeting. ■ The amendment was carried, > ; "I regard the treatment of the whole of these motions as an insult to myself,” observed Councillor Tregear, who had on the order-paper various other motions which were not discussed.