THE MARKET.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2447, 8 February 1882, Page 3

THE MARKET.

The question of a permanent market, ■which wo have put before the public with aome persistency, has at last come up in the City Council in a practical shape. "While not in the least agreeing with Mr. Searell’s proposal, it being far too extensive and co-=tly, the discussion on it has brought out one point which we are glad to bo able to direct attention to. “ Councillor Hulbert thought the Council should not build shops to compete with private enterprise.” That is just the stumbling block which has prevented us from having a decent market in our city, instead of a row of shanties which are only fit to occupy some of the back j streets instead of one of the finest sites in the city. It is this fear of treading on the toes of some of the shopkeepers which has prevented a moat necessary work both in the interests of the public and the ornamentation of the city being carried out. Wo contend, however, that this fear is unfounded, and wore there anything in it then the Council have been for some time past doing exactly what Councillor Hulbert—himself, if we mistake not, one of the prime movers in the Paddy’s Market scheme now so strongly deprecates. The market, if erected, would contain shops paying a fair rate in comparison to position, and in this there would bo no unfairness to the tradesmen who, because their places of business happen to bo in Colombo, High, or Cashel streets, where land is valuable, have to pay high rates. Wo assert that the public convenience would bo served by the erection of a permanent market at a moderate cost, not on such a gigantic scale as that proposed by Mr. Searell, and sooner or later the Council will hare to face the question. At any rate the present disgrace to the city, the neat of rabbit hutches playfully designated shops, which now occupy the market site, must bo cleared away. A considerable section of the public find the present inefficient market a convenience. How is the Council going to supply the want ? By telling them, “ Oh, there are butchers, greengrocers, &c., in the main thoroughfares of the city, where you have to pay for plate glass and heavy city rates ; yon must go there !” No, either a permanent market as wo propose, coating something like £2OOO or £3OOO, must bo erected, or the present buildings improved. The latter course is impossible, unless they aro repaired by erecting new ones, and wo therefore contend that the course suggested by us will in the end both bo the most economical and convenient to the public as a whole.