§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the hon. Member for the Knutsford Division of Cheshire, How many private bars and gates there are within the Metropolitan area; whether they are opened at any period of the year; and, 268 if so, for how long, and under what restrictions; and, whether the Local Boards or the Metropolitan Board of Works intend to take any further action in the matter?
§ MR. TATTON EGERTON (Cheshire, Knutsford), in reply, said that the Return made by the Metropolitan Board of Works showed that there were 150 private bars and gates within the Metropolitan area. The Board were unable to state the conditions by which these bars and gates existed. In 1886 the Board inserted clauses in a Bill before Parliament to enable them to deal, under certain conditions, with some of those private bars and gates that were most obstructive; but they met with so much opposition, both inside and outside the House, that they were obliged to withdraw the clauses, and they did not see their way to renew the attempt.