§ MR. W. H. JAMESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the observations of Dr. Hardwicke, at an inquest on the 8th of May upon a person of the name of Heron, in which he commented upon the absence of recreation grounds in London, where the children 570 had nowhere to play except the streets; and, if he will consider the expediency of making some inquiry as to whether there are not open spaces in the metropolis which might be made more available as playgrounds for the children of the poor than at present?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he regretted as much as Dr. Hardwicke or anyone else that there were not more playgrounds in the Metropolis for children. A good deal had undoubtedly been accomplished of late years; but he was not aware that anything more could be done than had been done under the Open Spaces (Metropolis) Act, which was passed in 1877.