358 AWAKENING OF ENGLAND. 



on the top of the waggon and then see his 

 precious peas divided among the costermongers 

 at half-price." 



" It is no exaggeration to say that the con- 

 dition of the markets is deplorable from the 

 market gardener's and the small holder's point 

 of view. The markets appear to be conducted 

 in the interests of privileged individuals who 

 constitute a monopoly disastrous to the welfare 

 of the workers of the land. 



*' From the point of view of the State, the 

 markets of London and the country, if well 

 organised, with adequate root and branch 

 reforms, could have immense possibilities 

 of wealth and be well calculated to settle 

 spontaneously upon the land the large rural 

 population in comfort and prosperity. . . . 

 He (the producer) has laboured at his task 

 twelve months, and then gets only half the 

 value of his labour, whilst the middlemen 

 between them with a few hours' work receive 

 half his profit." 



Indeed, under the segis of the State an 

 enormous monopoly has been built up on a 

 site which once belonged to the monks of 

 Westminster, and from which now the Duke 

 of Bedford derives a princely tribute. 



