HC Deb 29 April 1856 vol 141 cc1702-6
THE MARQUESS OF BLANDFORD

said, he wished to ask the right hon. Baronet the Chief Commissioner of Works if he would state what arrangements had been made, or were contemplated, with reference to the performance of the military bands in the public parks on Sundays—that is to say, in which of the public parks it was proposed that the military bands should in future perform; and whether there was any truth in the statements that had appeared that preparations were contemplated in such places for the accommodation of the performers and the public, by the erection of an orchestra and a place for the sale of refreshments?

COLONEL NORTH

said, that before the right hon. Gentleman answered the question of the noble Lord, he wished to ask another question respecting the regimental bands employed to play upon the occasions referred to. Although the bands were composed, in a great measure, of private soldiers of the regiments, they were entirely supported at the expense of the officers of the several regiments. It had always hitherto been the custom to ask permission of the officers in command of those regiments to allow their bands to play in public; and it had always been considered as a great favour on their part to grant that permission. He therefore wished to know whether the right hon. Baronet had obtained the consent of the officers of the various regiments to allow their bands to play, especially as he understood, from the papers of the day before, that upon the return of the army from the Crimea the several bands were to be called upon to play at the stations in which each regiment happened to be quartered.

SIR BENJAMIN HALL

said, he would first reply to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Oxfordshire (Colonel North). He had communicated with the noble Lord at the head of the Horse Guards, and had requested him to give directions that the military bands should be allowed to play in the parks on Sundays. His noble Friend, he believed, had thereupon communicated with the officers in command of regiments. On that point, however, he could not be certain, but he might observe that he (Sir B. Hall) had taken the usual course in the matter. With respect to the payment of the bandsmen, he had to state that, having corresponded with Colonel Williams, the gallant officer in command of the 2nd Life Guards, he had been enabled to make arrangements for that payment, which had been entirely satisfactory to the gallant officer. He had now great pleasure in proceeding to answer the questions which had been put to him by the noble Lord (the Marquess of Blandford), which, in fact, resolved itself into four questions. Hon. Members must be aware that last autumn he (Sir B. Hall) had given direction that the military bands should play in Kensington Gardens for the recreation—he might say, the innocent recreation—of the inhabitants of this vast metropolis. In order that there might be no mis-statement or exaggeration with respect to the number who assembled there to hear the music, he had ordered an account to be taken at the different gates of the gardens of the number which was present, and he had found that number to range from 35,000 to 75,000 persons. The arrangements which had been made last year had been commenced, and would be continued during the present year. The vast number he had just mentioned had assembled, too, he might remark, at a period of the year when town was regarded as being comparatively deserted. Last Sunday week there were 79,247 persons assembled in Kensington Gardens, and he thought it would be found inconvenient that the whole mass of the population should be brought together at one point. He had, therefore, given directions, which had met with the approval of Colonel Williams, who commanded the 2nd Life Guards, that the band should play in Regent's Park on Sunday next, and upon each succeeding Sunday—when the weather permitted—between the hours of Divine service. In reference to Victoria Park, he might add, that he had received yesterday a letter from the camp at Woolwich Common, from Lieutenant Colonel Dickson, commanding the Queen's Own Light Infantry, in which that gallant officer conveyed the very kind offer that the band under his orders should play in the Victoria Park, at a spot adjoining the quarters of the Tower Hamlets Militia. He intended, tomorrow, in reply to the letter in question, to thank the gallant officer, and to accept his offer. He proposed, accordingly, that the band should play in Victoria Park at the same hour as in the other parks on Sunday week. The only accommodation which had been provided for the performance in Kensington Gardens was that which had existed for several years—namely, the platform upon which the band had played for the amusement of those ladies and gentlemen who had visited Rotten Row upon Tuesdays and Fridays for the purpose of listening to the music. That platform, however, was very small and inconvenient, and it was his intention to direct that a new one should be erected either by next Sunday or the Sunday after. In answer to the last question of the noble Lord, he had to state that no better accommodation for refreshments had been provided in Kensington Gardens beyond that which he had found there when he came into office. He was aware, however, that the accommodation in question was not commensurate with the wants of the number who assembled upon such occasions; and although he had not taken any Vote in the Estimates for any extension of the accommodation, yet if he found that vast crowds continued to assemble after the proposed dispersion of the bands, he should feel it his duty to cause the erection of some temporary building or tent in which the public might obtain the necessary refreshment. He deemed it right to state, also, that the refreshments which would be provided would be of a most innocent character, consisting simply of tea and coffee, soda water, ginger beer, and such other non-intoxicating beverages. He might add, that he had been in Kensington Gardens last Sunday week, when upwards of 79,000 persons had assembled; that he saw there several Members of both Houses of Parliament, and all, he felt assured, would concur with him in thinking that the conduct of the people had been most admirable. In confirmation of this, he might also observe that every Monday morning, after the band had played, the superintendent of the gardens had come to him to make his report, and had invariably been able to state that so admirable had been the order maintained that, notwithstanding the numbers assembled, not a single shrub had been damaged. It was, therefore, his intention to proceed as he had begun, and to afford that recreation to the inhabitants of the metropolis which they seemed thoroughly to enjoy, of which their conduct showed them to be worthy, and which, he was happy to say, they fully appreciated.

THE MARQUESS OF BLANDFORD

said, he would now beg to ask whether any correspondence relative to the subject had taken place between the right hon. Baronet and the noble Lord at the head of the army, or with his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, as Ranger of the Park, on the subject? If so, he should be glad to know whether there was any objection to lay such correspondence upon the table of the House?

SIR BENJAMIN HALL

said, he had communicated, as he had already stated, with the noble Lord at the head of the Horse Guards last year, and had asked him if he had any objection to his request. He, however, was prepared to take the whole responsibility of the steps which he had taken upon himself and the arrangements referred to had been carried out at his particular instance. The communication in question, to which the noble Lord at the head of the Horse Guards had replied, acceding to the request which it conveyed, was very much in the nature of a private letter.

THE MARQUESS OF BLANDFORD

Perhaps the right hon. Baronet would have no objection to lay it upon the table? (Cries of "No, no!")

COLONEL NORTH

said, he wished to explain, that in asking the question which he had just put, he had no desire to express an opinion that the bands should play in the parks on Sundays for payment.

LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR

said, he wished to know whether any of those soldiers who composed the bands, and who were compelled to give up their Sunday afternoons for the public amusement, would, in case they objected to do so from conscientious motives or otherwise, be excused from attendance?

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, that in the absence of his hon. Friend the Under Secretary for War, he was unable to give the noble Lord a direct answer.

Subject dropped.