LEAVE. (Hansard, 7 July 1859)

MR. COWPER

said, he rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to restrict the erection of permanent structures in the carriage-ways of the metropolis. The subject with which he proposed to deal might appear trivial, but as residents in the metropolis it was one in which they must all feel an interest. The country had been frequently entertained with apprehensions of a French invasion, which it was feared we should not be able to meet; but the 845 fact was that a French descent had really taken place to which he desired to draw the attention of the House. A certain French company had come over to London, and had taken up a position in the chief thoroughfares and most crowded streets of the metropolis. They had already commenced operations at Hyde Park corner, where they had broken up the pavement and begun a very remarkable, strange, and uncouth edifice which had excited a great deal of attention. One hon. Member of the House thought that edifice an ornament, but every other human being he had heard express an opinion repudiated it as a disfigurement. Hon. Members who had not seen it, might approach the conception of it by thinking first of an Egyptian obelisk, then of a Chinese pagoda, or a kitchen clock from the Alhambra, then of a piece of confectionary ginger-bread, sugared and gilded, and finally of a magic watchbox in a Christmas pantomime, which at the touch of harlequin's wand will open and exhibit a fairy glittering in spangles. If this were the only structure of the sort, probably it would not be necessary to trouble the House, but it was stated that the company intended to erect similar columns at Chelsea Bridge and 100 other places, with the permission of the vestries. The excuse offered for those structures was, that in decorating London they gave information to the public, such as the nearest police station, the time of day, the day of the month, the direction of the wind; but the object was profitable advertisements, about an anatomical museum, the hour at which Cremorne opened, the place where a soirée dansante was held, and the residence of Dr. Eady. Supposing that information to be useful, the middle of a crowded carriage-way, where those who stopped to read would incur a great risk of being run over, was not the fittest place to publish it. The parish vestries had not protected us from these vulgar and tawdry erections; they were well fitted to administer rates and to direct the paving and lighting of the streets, but could not be expected to act as guardians of the public taste. It was said that any individual could indict the company for establishing a nuisance; but who would come forward? and Barnum's experience showed that the payment of a fine and the continuance of a nuisance might be the best mode of advertising. The rage for advertising was spreading so rapidly that if placards could occupy the 846 middle of the streets as well as the walls, the streets would be obstructed and the town disfigured. He proposed to introduce a Bill giving to the First Commissioner of Works a veto upon the erection of any structure such as he complained of on the carriage-ways of the metropolis. There was a precedent for such a provision in the Act of 1854, which forbade the erection of any statue in public places without the consent of the First Commissioner. He would not interfere with the vestries in the expenditure of the rates, or in their proper business, but in such a matter as this it would be better to trust to the action of a minister responsible to this House, and bound to disregard private interests. In point of principle it was abominable that those advertising companies should farm out and obstruct the public streets and thoroughfares for their own profit. The right hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for leave to bring in the Bill.