§ LORD FERMOYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether there is any truth in the report that he has granted permission to the Royal Agricultural Society of England to hold their annual Show in the Regent's Park; and if so, whether he has restricted them either as to the space which they are to occupy, or the time during which it is to be so occupied for the erecting and taking down the sheds and other fittings?
MR. COWPERsaid, he had no doubt that the general opinion of the Metropolis was in favour of giving facilities for holding the Agricultural Show next year in London, and that great dissatisfaction would be created if the offer of the Agricultural Society upon that subject were refused. Proper sites were provided and subscriptions were raised in every provincial town in which those shows were held for the purpose of ensuring their satisfactory progress; and he thought it would be derogatory to the intelligence and liberality of the Metropolis if the facilities given in other towns were refused in London. The Agricultural Society found that the north-western portion of the Regent's Park would be very convenient for their purpose, and he did not know any central place in the Metropolis where the 470 holding of the show would be more acceptable to the public at large. A space of twenty-six acres was available in that quarter, without encroaching on the public convenience. The show would occupy a week, and the Society would be required to make the necessary preparations in the shortest possible time.