MOTION FOR AN ADDRESS. (Hansard, 25 July 1882)

THE EARL OF MILLTOWN
, in moving— That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for Return of the gates, bars, and obstructions which are placed across certain streets of the Metropolis, with particulars as to the parishes in which they are respectively situated, the street or other place they obstruct, with the width of such street or place; whether the roadway of such street or place is repaired by the local authorities; whether, if such street or place were opened as a thoroughfare, much traffic would be likely to pass through it, and from what points, with a description of each bar or obstruction, with the authority for its erection and continuance and date of first erection; also what powers such authority confers, and to what extent those powers are now put in force, said, he trusted the Government would have no objection to give these Returns. He referred particularly to those obstructions which existed on the Duke of Bedford's property between the Strand and Ruston and St. Pancras Stations. A traveller hastening to catch a train, and turned back by the porter and obliged to make a long detour, would learn with surprise that the autocrat at whose instance he was thus delayed was a great Liberal Peer, a supporter and Member of the present Radical Government, which had, just deprived, without compensation, the landlords of one portion of the Kingdom of the legitimate rights of property exercised in every portion of the civilized world. It was chiefly in the Bloomsbury district where the greatest amount of obstruction was to be found, for their Lordships knew that the gates and bars there were kept closed during many hours out of the 24 of each day. In modern times the whole of that district had been built upon, and the obstructions were now much felt. The Metropolitan Board of Works and the citizens of London had for a long time past been anxious to get rid of these obstructions, but had not been able to do so. The inhabitants of London were very long-suffering; but their patience was becoming exhausted, and he trusted they might see the unreasonable restrictions upon a large body of traffic soon removed. He understood that a similar Motion was made in the House of Commons four months ago; but the Returns would not be so full 1673 and complete as he now wished to obtain.

THE EARL OF ROSEBERY
said, it was no part of his duty to enter upon a discussion of the subject which the noble Earl had called attention to; but he wished to point out that, owing to the somewhat conflicting interests of the various local authorities in the Metropolis, it would not be practicable to obtain such a Return in the form in which it was moved for. Returns of a very similar character had been asked for on the 6th of March in the House of Commons, and those Returns would shortly be laid before their Lordships. Under these circumstances, the Government had not thought it advisable to incur over again the expense and trouble which would be necessary in preparing fresh Returns in order to furnish information which had already been substantially supplied. He must, therefore, ask the noble Earl not to press his Motion at present, particularly the last part of it.

THE EARL OF MILLTOWN
said, that if the Vestries objected to furnish that information he had nothing more to say; but his impression was that the Vestries were most anxious to get rid of those obstacles to traffic.