Charles Bradlaugh

Speeches Charles Bradlaugh

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: MARKET RIGHTS AND TOLLS. House of Commons, 22nd April, 1887. Mr. Bradlaugh moved :? "That a humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying her Majesty to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire as to the extent to which market rights, and rights affecting places where markets are held, are in the hands (i) of public bodies, and (2) of private persons or bodies of persons. To inquire generally how such rights are exercised, and particularly what accommodation is given in return for charges levied: in what ratio market tolls stand to the value of goods on which they are levied, and how far the regulation of markets by means of bye-laws or otherwise, market rents, stallages, and tolls, and tolls affecting market towns, are restrictive of trade. To report as to the advisability of compelling the transfer of all such rights to local authorities: of prohibiting the farming of tolls and stallages, of prohibiting the placing of restrictions on the sale of goods in a market that may be lawfully sold elsewhere, of providing?by means of the incomes from markets or otherwise?for the extinction of the capital account chargeable to such markets, and for declaring all markets to be free and open." In proposing this motion, Mr. Bradlaugh said: I trust that the Government will be able to accept the motion, which in no sense raises a party question. The real object of the motion is to decrease the cost of food to the poor?to increase the facilities of the poor for obtaining good food at moderate prices?to encourage the augmentation, by increased cultivation, stimulated by early sale, of home food produce. Atthe present time market rights and tolls in many places have the contrary effect. Whatever may be the result of this motion, and whatever action the Government may feel compelled...