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Pie Powder CourtIn its inception, the City Market was presided over by the "Pie Powder Court." The Pie Powder Court was, in common terms, responsible for all commercial dealing in the Market. It was presided over by the Market Clerk who had the authority to levy fines or expel merchants and settle rules of behavior within the market area. The market reports show a list of fines levied on short weights, bad produce and breaking the rules of market procedure. The term Pie Powder came from the Norman French "Piepoudre," a term which refers to common peddlers and chapmen who traveled from market to market. They had "dusty feet" (pieds poudre) because of their wandering. The "Pie Powder Court" has now been taken over by provincial governmental agencies. The Market Clerk and staff still preside over the daily operation of the market and report through the Market Committee to the Saint John City Council. |