SOMETHING MORE ON FAIRS AND MARKETS, AND ON THEIR ESTABLISHMENT.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 780, 5 October 1853, Page 3

SOMETHING MORE ON FAIRS AND MARKETS, AND ON THEIR ESTABLISHMENT.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sm, —But besides the use of Fairs and Markets for the disposal of the produce and stock of cultivators of the soil, and the opportunities afforded thereby of their getting information as to the value of all agricultural products; their establishment —particularly the former—when their original intention is fully carried out, offer the readiest and cheapest means, for a dispersed population like that of this colony, for obtaining very many of the common necessaries of life. Such lor instance as soap, tea, sugar, tools of all kinds, cloth of all sorts, but particularly those of cotton, some descriptions of clothes, and in fact all sorts of things that will not deteriorate by keeping. For such purposes, as much as for the disposal of agricultural produce were the old Faire in the United Kingdom, and on the continent of Europe established. The people depending almost entirely bn the soil both for employment and support, were dispersed over its surface, and in very rare instances drawn together In towns, (rural England before the series of Great Plagues and continental wars which commenced in the reign of Edward 111. were probably more populous than at present). Numerous authorities show that not only the lowly, but the rich, depended upon Fairs tor their annual supplies of luxuries and also of necessaries not produced on their own land. From the Northumberland Household Book of the year 1512, it appears that that noble family purchased almost all that they did not produce at home—at Fairs. Old Tuper who wrote a few years after that date says : ** At Bartlemew tie'e. or at Sturbridge Fair, Buy that as is needful, thy house to repair ; Then sell to thy profit both butter and cheese.’’ This old Farmer (and also musician) we thus see made use of the Fairs not far distant from him both for selling and buying. He lived in a remote district and had roads in that day the counterparts of the roads of the Auckland district, and I think I may add of the colony generally, of the present day. Genare Marchham, whose books on rural and domestic affairs were written in the same century also, dwells upon the uses of Fairs both for the sale of produce and stock (the latter of which ho counsels should be sent to market or Fair in proper condition) and for the, purchase of household necessaries and even luxuries. Many of those Fairs or Markets continued for several days, and so great was the importance of some of them, that of Lincoln for instance, that the business in some of the public courts of London was suspended during its continuance, from the absence of many of the Aldermen and Common Council men (traders’) gone to the Fair. Even to the present day in various parts of England, the recurrence of the annual Market has the effect of reducing the price of goods in all the towns and villages within its influence. The shopkeepers are in the habit of sending round printed circulars among all their customers, announcing the prices at which their commodities wil]L be sold during the continuance of the markets, and many householders take advantage of the opportunity for laying in a considerable stock 8t from 5 to 10 per cent, reduction of price, sometimes more, the goo Is being the same. Buck of your readers os ttay happen to have been farmers In England, or concerned with homo dealing, are pro* papiy aware of many annual Fairs vr Mar*

kets which are held in various parts of England, and are attended by dealers from many distant parts of the Kingdom, and by Farmers from a large district of country. These men sell and buy for themselves and learn to do their own business. Fairs are not only common in our father-land, hut all over the world. Like situations of society has led to the same institutions. Mungo Park, if I recollect aright, speaks of more than one in the interior of Africa. Other authors speak of - several others on that continent, including one on the coast of Adel, held in a wild and uninhabited district, but centrally situated as regards various peoples. In Asia there are many, not forgetting the one held at Npvgorod, in Russia, attended by hundreds of thousands of persons, and lasting for several weeks. In Europe, besides some very large ones, we have the great book fair of Leipsic, at which, almost the whole of the immense hook trade of Germany may be said to he conducted. Their booksellers and Authors live dispersedly, in the various little states throughout Germany, and haven no every day open and _ convenient mart, like London for Britain, Paris for France; they, therefore, hold a Fair, to exhibit, to sell, and to purchase their wares. The people of Auckland district, and up the colony generally, are in like manner, living dispersedly, and most surely it would be to their advantage to take a lesson from the book-makers, booksellers, and book-buyers of Germany. But, I have as yet said nothing about one main advantage which the rural purchasers would derive from the establishment of fairs so comprehensive as to embrace the matters named in this letter. I mean the advantage of open competition as among the vendors. At present countrymen must make a long journey, though bad roads, and is consequently hurried and compelled to take what are offered at the first shop (that word is English I believe, but “ store,” in the sense of a room for vending, goods is not), and at such a price as the seller’s may be pleased to name. This will be found to he no small advantage to the purchaser ; it is found, to be so in England, particularly, in articles of iron or leather, and occasionally in other articles, and both at markets and faii-s. Tire carriage of goods to the fairs in quantities would be a considerable saving upon the fmesent practice, by which the purchaser has a ong journey to take to purchase possibly an indispensible, but very small article at the great •waste of time, and considerable personal fatigue. It is scarcely to he expected that shopkeepers will very thoroughly advocate tire establishment of fairs, or even markets, but once establish them, and the purpose of business and profit will quickly cause the attendance of all the parties required. But how to establish them here in the colony 1 In England, from the days of William the conqueror, at least they have been immemorially established by Royal charter’s granted to the owners of the soil, or to the Lords of Manor’s, the corporations of cities and boroughs, aird to abbeys and nunneries. By these charters the granter-s became entitled to various fees, aird were bound to preserve the peace, and to have generally a court or person ready to settle disputes at the pie poudre court. But (the grant of the charter would not occasion the assemblage of the people unless such an establishment was necessary. The extremely numerous Fair’s still held rn England, which have been in being for many centuries, show how much benefit numerous generations have derived from them, and the same holds equally true of markets; and as production and population increase, both these business conveniences are increasing also. Some being established merely by the periodical inciting of buyers and sellers—but much oftener by reviving the use of the grant made by some old charter. The fees paid are, generally speaking, very small, and the lords of manors derive little or no profit now’from Fairs or Markets generally. In the colony, possibly the proclamation of the Governor might be sufficient. But let the people but show that they wish for the establishment of these convenient and necessary marts, for the sale and purchase of prckluCe and goods, and I doubt not-but the tiring will be done. I don’t fancy that your General Assembly lias any tiring to do with their establishment, whatever it may have to do with the amount of fees to be paid and received. So much. Sir, for Fairs and Markets, and I hope that your kindness in finding room for these long letters about them will answer the purpose which I am sure you wish to forward of the public convenience and advantage.—l am, &c., &c. K.