MAJOR STUART KNOXsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is true that the permission accorded to the Band of the Commissionaires to play in St. James's Park has been withdrawn; and, if so, on what grounds, and for what cause; and, whether any Correspondence has passed on the subject; and, if so, whether he has any objection to lay it upon the table?
MR. COWPERSir, in reply to the Question of the hon. and gallant Member I have to state that some of the inhabitants of New Street, Spring Gardens, Spring Garden Terrace, and Carlton Gardens remonstrated on account of the annoyance which they stated they experienced from the playing of these bands just in front of their windows. Although the Street Music Act does not apply in precise terms to the band playing on that side of their houses in the Park, yet it appeared to me that it did apply in spirit, and I thought, out of deference to the Act of the Legislature in passing that statute, that it would not be right to grant permission to this band to ploy in front of the houses in question, as they had been allowed to do before the passing of the Act. The withdrawal of the permission previously given—for the permission was only annual—was not made by means of correspondence, and I have, therefore, no correspondence on the subject which I can lay upon the table of the House.
MAJOR STUART KNOXI would beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether he is aware that the permission was worth £1,000 a year to the Commissionaires, and whether he will grant a piece of ground within St. James's Park, away from the houses, during this season, and see whether any objection will be made to such a course?