STREET HAWKING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 861, 6 July 1910, Page 10

STREET HAWKING.

DISCUSSED BY THE MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE. At the Municipal Conference yesterday, Mr. Bagnall, Mayor of Auckland, moved:— That powers be giron to municipalities to make by-laws regulating or prohibiting hawking or peddling in and upon any or all of the streets of tho borough. In the course of discussion tho president (Mr. AYill'ord) suggested that the words "or prohibiting" be struck out, as it might be held to be such restraint of trade as the Privy Council had decided was illegal in tho case of tho Toronto City Council. Mr. Pcttit (Nelson) moved an amendment to strike out the words mentioned by the president. He urged that, in tho interest of the consumer, there should be no prohibition of street hawking. Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) seconded the amendment. Mr. Bagnall explained that the policy of the Auckland City Council was to assign to the hawkers stands in the side streets, at their junctions witli Queen Street. The hawkers, • however, insisted on their right to sell in. Queen Street. If they could do so, the only tiling tho authorities could do was to tell them to "move on," and that was not sufficient.

Mr. J. A. Nash, Mayor of Palmerston North, said the street hawkers wore a serious problem at Palmerston. Shopkeepers had been driven out of business by tho competition of hawkers. Mr. H. M. Smeeton (Auckland) said tho Auckland Council did not wani/ to discourage the consumption of fruit, but merely to regulate traffic in the interest of public safety. Mr. Hindmarsh said it was only a shopkeepers' question, but ho thought tho delegates should look at it in a judicial manner. He would oppose the motion. Mr. J. AY. M'Ewan, Mayor of Petone, in. supporting the amendment, said the councils should not prohibit, but they ought to have power to regulate. Mr. AY. Handloy, Mayor of Devonport, said that if the opponents of the proposal could go to Auckland and sec the hawkers plying their trade just in front of the shops whoso trade tinware taking. away, they would realise what a nuisance this street trading was. The amendment was carried. Mr. J. A r . Brown, M.P., moved a further amendment to add the -words empowering councils to charge the hawkers a license fee not exceeding ss. a day. This was seconded by Mr. H. Haydon (Palmerston North). Mr. Pettit (Nelson) opposed the' amendment. It would bo absurd to charge a man 30s. a week for the right to sell perishable goods in the street. Mr. Page, Mayor of Eketahuna, also opposed tho motion. Tho amendment was lost, and tho motion as proviously amended was carried on the voices.