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EVERYBODY’S COLUMN
EVERYBODY’S COLUMN
[Welland Tribune, 15 March 1895]
MR. EDITOR-I want to ask a lot of questions-Is it possible our town council have decided to refuse to allow farmers to cut up meat on the market and to charge one cent for weighing a pound of beef? Isn’t this pretty small business? I propose we take up a subscription and buy the poor town a pair of small scales. What’s the matter with the town council? Have they no back bone? Do they think the market is growing to be such a success it is necessary to muzzle it? Or have the butchers got them by the nose and leading them? I would not blame the butchers if the council is soft enough to pass a by-law compelling everyone in Welland to purchase their meat at 25 cents a pound, but what about the public? Does the town council say, like Shakespeare or some other fellow-”The public be d—-”. The council, elected by the public, are bound to see that the public pay a good round price for their meat. No difference if a poor man has a chance to buy meat cheap, our town council says he must take the farmer to the butcher and thus pay extra to give it a rich flavor. Of course some two thousand dollars of our taxes have been spent for our market, but do all you can to keep farmers away-otherwise the market might be a success.
There was an attempt to secure special rates on railroads to this town on market days, and this can probably be secured yet. Now if the council could prohibit the farmers from retailing vegetables as well as meat on the market it would keep outsiders from coming in on the trains. If they came here they might trade at the stores, and that would be terrible. It must not be allowed.
Our grocers have no sand (perhaps they us it is their sugar). Why don’t they ask the town council to prohibit farmers from retailing potatoes, vegetables and everything they bring. The grocers make a business to sell these. Why, bless their innocent hearts, the town council would grant it in a minute. This case appears to be legislation for five against two thousand five hundred people. Can any sane man say it is right? Surely, if carried out, the votes at the next election will give the council a much needed holiday. What councillor is man enough to get up and speak for the people?
A FRIEND OF THE MARKET.
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