BUNIHLL FIELDS BURIAL GROUND BILL.—LEAVE.—FIRST READING. (Hansard, 2 April 1867)

§ MR. CRAWFORD

said, he rose for the purpose of asking leave to introduce a Bill for the preservation of Bunhill Fields Burial Ground as an open space, and for other purposes relating thereto. The introduction of the Bill would not be opposed on the part of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; but he wished to state briefly the nature of its provisions. The Bill would leave the fee of the estate in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; but the City of London had undertaken to repair the tombs and monumental memorials, and to maintain the burial-ground in proper order as a place of public resort. The Bill did not interfere with any of the matters in dispute between the Commissioners and the City of London respecting rents and other receipts. He was glad that the Bill would not be opposed at its present stage, and lie hoped the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Mowbray) would be able to inform the House that he would not oppose it on the second reading.

§ MR. MOWBRAY

said, on behalf of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, that there was no intention to oppose the introduction of the measure. The Commissioners never contemplated devoting the ground to any other purpose than that proposed. At present, however, he had not had an opportunity of reading the Bill, and until he had done so, of course he could not pronounce an opinion upon it. He was 998 glad to hear that his hon. Friend proposed to reserve the questions now pending between the corporation and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners with respect to certain pecuniary claims which the Commissioners thought they had upon the corporation. He wished, however, that the hon. Gentleman was in a position to state that the corporation were willing to accept the proposal which had been made to them for submitting to arbitration all the matters in dispute.