MR. BUXTONasked the honourable Member for Truro, Whether he has sanctioned the proposed opening of eight shafts along the Thames Embankment which the Metropolitan District Railway desire to build; whether some of these shafts will seriously diminish the space now allotted to public gardens on the Embankment; and, whether this House will have any opportunity of considering such a proposal?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGSir, I beg to inform my hon. Friend that the shafts referred to were provided for in a Bill promoted by the District Railway Company in the Session of 1881. The Metropolitan Board and the Corporation of London vigorously opposed the Bill before both Houses of Parliament; and the Board, through their engineer, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, offered evidence to show that the ventilation could be managed by mechanical means in a way which would not be detrimental to the public. The opposition, however, was unfortunately unsuccessful; and, in accordance with the terms of the Act, the matter has recently been before the arbitrator appointed by the Board of Trade, 1411 before whom evidence for the Board was given by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, myself, and others, and whose award is now being carried out. There is no doubt that these shafts will seriously diminish the space now allotted to public gardens on the Embankment, and will also interfere with the road space; but I am afraid that, as matters stand, the Board is powerless to prevent the erection of these hideous structures.
§ LORD ALGERNON PERCYasked the hon. Gentleman if he would inform the House whether the Metropolitan District Railway had paid the Metropolis or any local authority any sum of money for the ground taken for these ventilators?
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGIn the original inception of the Thames Embankment a sum of £200,000 was paid by the District Railway Company for the accommodation then afforded; but not a penny has been paid for the destruction of the gardens and obstruction of the roadway. If I am rightly informed, the Company has let land which they might have applied for the purposes of ventilation, and then made application to Parliament for the powers they obtained last year.
§ MR. J. R. YORKEasked the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade whether there was anything to be hoped from the interposition of the Board of Trade?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. Member gives me Notice I will have the matter further looked into; but, as at present advised, I am afraid we have no authority whatever.