THE EARL OF MEATHsaid, he rose to ask Her Majesty's Government the first of three Questions with reference 78 to open spaces, and it was, Whether it was their intention within a reasonable period to build over the entire open space at present adjoining the Law Courts, and bounded on the Western and South-Western sides by King's College Hospital and Clement's Inn; and, if not, whether they would have any objection to lay out and maintain as a public garden such portion of the space as they do not intend to cover with buildings? Although this space was not a large one, it was one well worth preserving or allowing the public to use until it was built upon. It was the only spot from which the Law Courts could be well seen to advantage. The district was densely populated, and it was very badly off for open spaces. The experience of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association was that the working classes could be trusted to maintain order among themselves and to preserve property of which they had the enjoyment. He understood the Government desired to build Bankruptcy offices in close proximity to the Law Courts; but that was no reason why this site should be left in its present dilapidated condition; nor would that be a necessary consequence of making a road through it if it were necessary to do it. It was two years since it was said that Bankruptcy buildings were going to be built, and yet nothing had been done; and if the land was not going to be appropriated at once the public might have the enjoyment until it was required.
§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSsaid, there was an apparent inconsistency between this Question and the third on the Paper, in which the noble Earl suggested the planting of trees on the space near the British Museum, which trees would interfere with the public view of the building. It appeared that wherever the noble Lord saw an open space he desired to plant trees.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, that one or two trees would not destroy the view of either building.
§ EARL FORTESCUEsaid, he would support the appeal of the noble Earl for permission to use the Law Courts space as a recreation ground, a privilege which, to judge from experience, would be greatly appreciated; the neighbourhood being densely populated, Lincoln's Inn Fields being unfortunately still 79 closed, and only a narrow strip of embankment garden at all within reach.
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, the Bankruptcy offices were to be built chiefly upon a part of the site of Clement's Inn acquired by the Government last year. Part of this open space might also be wanted for these offices and part or all of it might also be required—and it was impossible to say how soon—for the extension of the Royal Courts of Justice, which he was told by the First Commissioner was desired by the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack. At the present time there were many demands upon the Office of Works for new buildings, as, for instance, the War Office and Admiralty buildings, and others, and it might be some years before the Treasury would grant all the money required for the improvements of the Royal Courts of Justice. If in the meantime any expense were to be incurred in making the land available for recreation, such expense ought to be borne by the Metropolis rather than by the funds provided by Parliament, inasmuch as the benefit was of a local kind, and not one which should be paid for by the Imperial Exchequer. If the Metropolitan Board, the local Vestry, or the Metropolitan Gardens Association, over which the noble Earl presided, desired to adapt the land temporarily as a recreation ground, the Office of Works were perfectly willing to consider any scheme that might be submitted to them, subject to the imperative condition that the liberty of the Government to deal with the land for their own purposes at any time should not be in any way prejudiced.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY)said, it seemed to him an extraordinary proposition that land purchased at great cost for Courts of Justice should be devoted to other purposes. Of course, he had nothing to say to any temporary use of it that might not interfere with its ultimate destination; but the administration of justice to clamouring suitors was hampered by the want of Courts to sit in, and in these circumstances it was impossible for the Government to commit itself to devote a piece of land bought expressly for Courts of Justice at a high price to any other purpose whatever. As to the inconvenience of the Courts of Justice, it was only just to remember that they were 80 planned for one system of administration and were used for another, and if any inconvenience resulted it was not the fault of the architect or of those who adopted the plans; but, speaking from personal experience, he did not find there was much inconvenience, and he certainly thought that the new Courts were an improvement upon the old ones.
EARL NELSONsaid, he thought the site in question was originally purchased for the rebuilding of one of the churches in the Strand—St. Clement Danes—when it was taken down for the widening of the Strand.
§ LORD HERSCHELLsaid, he hoped that no Government would ever contemplate building upon the whole or the greater portion of the site in question; it would spoil the view of the existing buildings if they did. The public would benefit much more from leaving the land as an open space than from occupying any portion of it with buildings. There was always a temptation if you had a vacant piece of land to build upon it. He should like to see so much of this land as was really necessary to preserve the view of the present buildings from obstruction definitely devoted to a purpose that would render it in the highest degree unlikely that it would ever be built upon.
THE EARL OF MEATHbegged, on behalf of his Association, to thank the noble Lord (Lord Henniker) for the offer he had made on behalf of the Government. He wished, further, to ask Her Majesty's Government, whether they would permit the public to enter during the hours of daylight the small enclosure facing the Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, in which the statue of Canning was situated? He did not think that there was any necessity for further open spaces in the neighbourhood of the Houses of Parliament. There were several in the district around; but there was no spot where a foreigner or any individual who visited the Metropolis could sit down in peace and quiet and contemplate and study carefully the architectural beauties which surrounded Parliament Square. He thought that a few seats should be provided. The Association with which he was connected had placed seats in the open space in front of the Abbey, but no view of the Houses of Parliament could be had from them. All he asked was 81 that the spot to which his Question referred should be thrown, as it were, into the roadway, just as they saw such places in Continental towns, and that the grass and shrubs should be left and seats placed there.
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, that the Question of the noble Earl pointed to the Square being thrown open to foreigners and strangers. The First Commissioner of Works had considered the question carefully, and he was of opinion that it was impossible to reserve an open space such as was proposed for any particular class of persons, and he did not consider that this spot of ground was a suitable one to which the general public should be admitted.
§ EARL GRANVILLEsaid, he did not understand that the Question had been put in the form in which the noble Lord seemed to think it had—namely, as to whether this open space should be reserved entirely for foreigners and strangers, which was obviously impossible. The object was to have the spot thrown open for the benefit of all.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)said, that reference was made by the noble Earl (the Earl of Meath) to contemplative persons. He was afraid that the small boys of London would infest and take possession of the Square if they threw it open, and their occupations would not favour that æsthetic contemplation which the noble Earl desired to see.
§ EARL FORTESCUEsaid, he hoped the noble Lord would reconsider his decision. He thought that there were places in the Square where seats could be placed under the trees. If the existing railings were moved a few feet back, behind the seats, the houses would be effectually protected from annoyance.
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, that he thought there would be no difficulty in placing seats in Parliament Square if desired. There were many reasons which he had not thought it right to trouble their lordships with, such as the question of which the noble Marquess—the Prime Minister—had spoken of, injury to property, and so on, which would result upon the throwing open of this spot.
§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPONasked, whether the noble Lord would undertake that seats should be placed in Par- 82 liament Square where it was possible to do so?
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, he would undertake to submit the matter to the First Commissioner of Works.
LORD STRATHEDEN AND CAMPBELLsaid, he was of opinion that the Government had come to a sound decision not to throw this space open to the public. Such a change would be injurious and unjust to vendors and purchasers of property.
THE EARL OF MEATHasked Her Majesty's Government whether they would at the proper season plant some trees in the open space in front of the British Museum? He thought that if trees were more generally planted, as they were in America, where in some places everyone planted a tree on a particular day, it would be an excellent thing. Their Lordships were well aware that trees added not only to the beauty of the Metropolis, but also to the health of London.
§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSsaid, he certainly had no wish to stop the planting of trees in the Metropolis; but he thought that they could have too much of a good thing. Care should be taken not to plant the trees too close together, and allowance ought to be made for their rapid growth, as it was very undesirable that views of the Parks should be shut out by them.
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, that he could not then give an answer to the Question put by his noble Friend, because the matter was at present under the consideration of the Trustees of the British Museum, who had not yet conveyed their views to the First Commissioner of Works.