AT THE HALLS

Unemployed committee...

She had to report abuses to the President of the Republic once a year!

Les Halles de Paris are regulated by the law of June 11, 1896, article 9 is as follows:

“A higher commission will be responsible for sending, at least once a year, to the President of the Republic, a report on the situation at the Halles Centrales, and the abuses that may be committed there and the reforms they entail. This report will be inserted in the Official Journal. The commission will be chaired and convened by the Minister of the Interior. »

You can diligently read the “Official” and not find the report in question there. Don't be surprised. The commission has been set up but, for it to be able to submit a report to the President of the Republic once a year, it would have to be convened at least once a year. However, Mr. Louis Renault, General Councilor of Noisy-le-Sec tells us that the Superior Commission of Les Halles was assembled for the last time, on June 27, 1921.

Why is the law not enforced? We are, however, at a time when this commission could have rendered great service. Economic conditions have changed since the war and it is time to adapt the regulations of Les Halles to the new conditions. The high cost of living is rampant and the government must be careful to suppress abuses.

At its last meeting, M. Renault tells us, an important question was submitted to the commission. It was a question of suppressing the entrance to the Halles of goods which are introduced there in violation of the regulations, through the intermediary of distribution agents. This way of proceeding contributes to the increase. In order not to take a decision lightly, the Superior Commission instructed a Sub-Commission to study this question.

The sub-commission was never able to present its report since the Superior Commission of Les Halles had not been convened since that time. We would add that the rapporteur of this sub-committee cannot even carry out his mission with his colleagues because, despite the letters sent to him, the director of the Halles and markets department at the Prefecture of police , does not convene this sub-committee — of which he is chairman — to hear the report read and discuss it.

For several years, the regulations of Les Halles have therefore been modified by the sole authorization of the Prefecture of Police. The General Council has expressed a wish, asking that the Superior Commission of Les Halles be convened as often as necessary and at least once a year.

Will this so reasonable wish be heard?

PIERRE DUBARD