OPEN MARKETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1058, 23 August 1930, Page 8

OPEN MARKETS

wrtin iTiMruvc. I o Sir,— I read in Thursday’s Sun a letter by Airs. Ruby E. Watson on open markets. I must say, here, it is the most remarkable letter from one who is advocating open markets I have ever read. I have been following the correspondence concerning the matter with a great deal of interest, having been connected with the market at St. Peter’s Port. Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, for some considerable period In that port the markets are institutions as old as the town The market is under one roof, one can buy anything, with the one exception of flowers, which are sold in what is really part of the market, but across a road and separate from the main building. Now, this is where I consider Airs. Watson’s letter to be ridiculous. There the market is under no circumstances a failure, and yet the stallholders have had their stalls for more years than I can remember. Your correspondent does not seem to realise that if a person has a stall for one day, or even one week, that he will

naturally endeavour to make as much in that period as he can, in case he happens to be unlucky in missing, the next day or week. She also seems to suggest that markets should be used for the disposal of refuse which otherwise would be dumped or destroyed. Surely she is not serious in this? And yet she goes on and offers all these choice pieces of dumpings to small pensioners and unemployed. I would suggest that smallholders can grow first-rate things as well as the ones with big holdings. Open markets are to my mind very necessary, but for the sale of first-class goods, not rubbish. MACK.