§ MR. COWPERsaid, he wished to ask a Question with regard to Victoria Park. An apprehension existed amongst the frequenters of the Park that a public-house was about to be opened within its precincts, in which spirituous liquors were to be freely sold. He should be glad to hear from his right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works, What are the intentions of the Government, with a view to allaying this apprehension?
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, in reply, that he was much obliged to his right hon. Friend for giving him that opportunity of explaining a matter which had been very much misrepresented. The House was aware that Victoria Park was in a part of London inhabited chiefly by the working classes, many of whom came from considerable distances, bringing with them their wives and families, in order to enjoy a day in the Park. Hitherto the principal refreshments to be had in the Park were sour ginger beer and stale buns. The working man could not dine upon such food as that, and he thought it would be a great been to him to authorize the selling of cooked meats, and something which might furnish him with a dinner, so as not to render it necessary for him to take his wife and children out of the Park to one of the numerous small pot-houses which had sprung up round about. But it was not true that he had authorized the sale of spirituous liquors; he had, on the contrary strictly prohibited anything of the kind. Beer had always been sold in the Park. There was to be no bar drinking, and if he should hear of any case of intoxication, he would withdraw the privilege which had been accorded. He believed the real promoters of the commotion against the change were the keepers of beer-shops in the neighbourhood of the Park, who feared they would lose some of their trade by the innovation.