Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-06-28 00:00:00

MARKETS COMMITTEE.

- , -
A special kenerdrineeting of this cominittee was held in
the- Council-chamber, at the Town-hall, yesterday forenoon.
Mr. Johnson presided; and the other members pregent. were
Messrs. Woodruff, Shimmin, Holden, Ridley, Houghton,
Anthony, and Haydock.
The Chairman said the first business on the list related
to the system of books proposed to be kept by Mr. Bally,
in addition to those now in use, comprising a rent-roll
book, large check books in substitution of the small check
books, and also plans of markets showing the numbers of
stalls.

At the suggestion of the chairman, the subject was post-
poned until the new staff had been appointed.
Mr. Ridley said, that on the 9th of May he gave notice
that he would on a subsequent day move that it be recom-
mended to the Council to appoint Mr. Hutchinson
superintendent of all the markets at a 'salary of £250 per
annum; Mr. Stonehouse manager of St. John's market, at
£2OO ; Mr. Tyrer manager of St. James's and other markets
in the southern division, at £l4O ; and Mr. Radcliffe
manager of St. Martin's and the northern division, at £l3O.
Circumstances had since•transpired which had compelled
him to make some alterations in the recommendation. Mr.
Hutchinson he believed to be competent to the discharge of
the duty of general superintendent of all the markets, at a
salary of £250. Mr. Hutchinson, in the new appointment,
would have to investigate the entire management of the
markets ; he would have to look after the managers of the
other markets, and to see that they did their
duty ; he (Mr. Hutchinson) would also have to see
that the books were carefully, clearly, and fully kept ;
but he himself would have nothing whatever to' do with
the handling of one penny of the Corporate money. In
the neat place he intended to propose that Mr. Stonehouse,
also an old and valuable servant of the corporation, should
be removed from the northern markets, where he at present
received £2OO a-year, and be appointed to the central
markets, at a salary of £220. At first, he cMr. Ridley) had
intended to place Mr. Tyrer as superintendent of the
southern markets, and Mr. Radcliffe as superintendent of the
northern markets; but these gentlemen having resigned
their situations, he would simply propose that two com-
petent persons be appointed, at a salary of £125 each. He
also proposed the appointment of two collectors for St.
John's and the central markets, at a salary of £lOO
a-Tear.

The various propositions were then submitted seriatim,
and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. Ridley added that the new plan involved no more
expense to the corporation than the old system, while they
had, in addition, a general inspector of all the markets.
The total amount would be £920.

Mr. Woodruff said that the scheme proposed by Mr.
Ridley met with his approval to a very considerable
extent. He had no objection now to try the general
principle of a superintendent over all the markets ;
neither had he before, further than that he was unwil-
ling that one man should be appointed at £3OO a-year to
do:what another man had been appointed to do for £270.
Circumstances, however, had now changed the ground
completely. There was one thing certain, that the
council and the town would expect them to make the
best arrangement they could to prevent a repetition of
such disgraceful work ai had been going on at the markets.
No part of the corporate affairs was so disgraceful as that
connected with the markets ; but he thought it would be
found that the committee from time to time had exercised
a considerable control, although they had, unfortunately,
some rogues to deal with. He had no doubt the change
now proposed would be of considerable benefit to the

corporation

Mr. Holden wished to correct Mr. Woodruff. Mr.
Luya received £270 as superintendent of St. JOhn's
Market, but it was further proposed Lb appoint a man at
£3OO to superintend the whole of the markets.
A deputation of farmers and others attended before the
committee, in reference to the advisabitity of using
Williamson-square as an auxiliary wholesale market.
Mr. J. R. Jeffery, on behalf of the deputation, said
when they last waited on the committee, they were told
that the committee sympathised with them, but under the
advice of the law-deck they had no means, legally, of ap-
propriating Williamson-square as a relief to Queen's-square
market. He now ventured to submit to them that by a
mutual arrangement they might do what the law did not
enable them to do. If the owners and inhabitants of Wil-
liamson-square asked them to allow parties to come and
occupy that square, then the only remaining question would
be as to the accommodation of the public who used the
square as a place of traffic. The occupiers were willing to
put themselves under a written agreement to pay for the
accommodation. That principle being conceded, it would
be a matter of detail as to what sort of vegetables should be
removed from Queen's-square. He understood there wa
of a dissenting voice among the owners. _ _ s

The Chairman said, wfien he mentioned the matter to
one owner, he said, " -What ! transfer the nuisance from
one square to another; I protest against it." The same
owner added, that if his tenant gave any such perthission,
he would lose no time in giving notice to the tenant to qnit
the property. _ _

Mr.,Jeffery said the nuisance was occasioned in cnn-
seciuence of the crowding and the excess in Queen's7square.

kr. Woodruff would-assist in the removal of the carts
from Queen's-square. It was an absolute necessity that
something should be done, and done at once. He would
have less of law and more of common sense in this matter ;
and having relieved Queen's-square, the next step would
be to provide a large wholesale market for the accommoda-
tion of the whole of the trade. The want was too urgent
to be put off with a frivolous objection.
The Chairman asked, if they went against the advice of
the Town-clerk, what position would they, stand in before
the council ?
Mr. Jeffery did not think any section of the community
would take action against them for appropriatiniWilliaMson-
square. ,He would like to know how they had appropriated
Great Charlotte-street? •

The Chairman
Mr. Jeffery:
under a bve-law;

: It is appropriated under bye-law.
Why not appropriate Williamson-square

The Chairman : Because Williamson-square was laid' out
and adopted before the period when the act was , passed
under which they were uow.working.

The deputation then withdrew

31r- Woodruff sugo
opinion of the Town-clerk a,

?.sted that they •had better ask the
in on the subject, with the

view to coming to some arrant

ement

Mr..Ridley said he knew tlit Mr. Lowndes, proprietor of
the Stork Hotel, would newer consent to any market being
established in Williamson-square.
The subject then dropped.
Mr. Shimmin then brought forward his new plan of a rent
roll, explaining how he proposed to have it kept so that
it might form an efficient check. The following is an
explanation of the new book. The first column was
intended for the No. of shop, stall, &c., consecutively,

as at present with