MUNICIPAL MARKETS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2192, 16 May 1908, Page 1

MUNICIPAL MARKETS.

THEIR ESTABLISHMENT APPROVED BY THE CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL.

A special committee appointed to consider tho question of establishing municipal food markets submitted a report to the City Council on Monday last. Tho committee reported that it had considered tho petition from the Political Labor League, presented to tho Council on April 27, also an additional petition signed by over 200 persons, requesting the Council to establish a municipal market for the sale of fruit, lish and vegetables, ami rueommonded that such a market should be established, provided that power could bo obtained from Parliament to compel the sale of all fish at tlio municipal market. The committoo also recommended that the question of obtaining the necessary powers should 'be forwarded to the Municipal Association for consideration at the next conference.

Councillor IV; H. Cooper said that tlio petitions ho had seen were signed by over COO persons, who were all in favor of the establishment of a municipal market. He had been approached by a number of tradespeople, including a cheesemonger, fruiterers and fish dealers, who all urged that a municipal market should bo established.

Councillor ■ T. Gapes said that it would bo advisable not to make any other sales than thoso of fish compulsory in a municipal market. If tho salo of fisli were compulsory, otlior goods would follow. Councillor 11. H. Louglman said that there should be no compulsion at all. If there was a demand for the market, it would pay; if there was no such demand, the market should not be built. It would be most unwise to risk the complications that would result from compulsory legislation and the unnatural business conditions it would bring about. Tho Council should mako an experiment by establishing a market to meet the demands of those who desired one. It would not cost a great deal of money. Councillor H. B. Sorensen said that it would be quite useless to establish a market if there was no moans of ensuring that commodities would bo taken to it for sale. Councillor G. IV. ,J. Parsons said that tho greatest was not the question of a market, but of getting a regular supply of fish. At present, lie understood, on four days a week there were no supplies, while on the other two the quantities wore too large. Councillor J. D. Hall said that whether it was necessary or not to compel the sale of classes of food other than fish at the municipal market, it would bo advisable to ask for such power, and have it in reserve. Ho moved, as an amendment, that the provision of power to compel tlio sale of vegetables, fruit, fisli and produce should bo embodied in a Bill to

be brought down during the coining session. It might he a very serious matter to interfere with the vested interests of those concerned with the commodities mentioned, hut tho provision of power to interfere would do no harm, and would he valuable. Councillor C. Taylor seconded Councillor Hall’s amendment.

In reply to Councillor Cooper, Councillor' Hall said that tho muni: cipal market would not necessarily shut up l any shops at all. The retailer, if he thought the market the best place to sell in, would tako a stall there, hut' his shop could bo open all the time. Councillor Parsons said that when the market was first- proposed it was intended that it should he a wholesale market, where perishable goods should be subjected to inspection. Councillor f.N. Horsley said that he felt sure that a municipal market in Christchurch would bo a huge failure. A market established many years ago in Auckland had depreciated into a huge emporium of se-cond-hand goods and rubbish of all kinds.

The (Mayor said that lie supported Councillor Hall’s amendment.

Councillor Cooper said that lie had been assured that tho Auckland market was a huge success. Tho amendment was lost, and the report adopted.