HC Deb 03 April 1884 vol 286 cc1468-71
MR. RYLANDS

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is still the intention of the Government to give effect to the decision which he announced to the House on the 9th of August last in the following terms: — Having carefully considered the Report of the Committee on the Wellington Statue, the Government have decided to invite a competition of sculptors for a new statue of the Great Duke, to be placed in front of Apsley House in lieu of the present statue?

MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether he can now inform the House what decision has been come to with regard to Wyatt's equestrian statue of the late Duke of Wellington, and who is responsible for the decision; whether a new equestrian statue of the Duke is to be erected in the vicinity of Hyde Park Corner; whether the commission for this new statue is to be given to a Foreign artist, and whether there is no native British artist to whom this national work could be entrusted; whether it is intended to erect at the public expense a so-called "Quadriga" on the top of the triumphal arch on Constitution Hill, and by whom this "Quadriga" is to be designed and executed; and, whether the opinion of the "Institute of British Architects" has been taken as to the removal of Wyatt's statue from London, and as to whether the erection of the "Quadriga" would improve the artistic effect of the arch in its present position?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

I think, Sir, it would be more convenient that I should first answer the Question of the right hon. Member for Whitehaven (Mr. Cavendish Bentinck). I stated some weeks ago that the Government had consented to a proposal of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales with respect to the decoration of the new place at Hyde Park Corner, the removal of the present statue of the Duke of Wellington to Aldershot, and the erection of a now statue in its place. Since then a full Report has been made by an important Committee, of which the Prince of Wales acted as Chairman, and has been published in the newspapers. I need not, I think, repeat it here; but substantially it carries out the proposal originally made. The Government, therefore, will submit a Vote to Parliament for an instalment of £2,000 on account of a sum of £6,000 which they have promised towards the new statue. Mr. Boehm has been selected by the Committee to which I have referred as the sculptor, and the Government have approved the choice. I must decline to canvass the relative merits of living sculptors. Mr. Boehm is a member of the Royal Academy, and has, therefore, been adopted by the Profession as an English artist. It is true that in August last I stated that the Government would invite a competition of sculptors for the new statue, which was intended to be limited to a certain number of the leading sculptors. After making this statement I received several letters from the present Duke of Wellington, protesting in the strongest manner against this course. It was also represented to mo that it would be impossible to get a good work of art in that way, as some of the leading sculptors would not compete. The Government has, therefore, thought it best to act upon the suggestion of the Prince of Wales, and to leave the selection of the artist to the Committee, by whom Mr. Boehm was unanimously chosen. The Report of the Committee recommends, among other matters, the erection of a quadriga on the arch on Constitution Hill, in accordance with Mr. Decimus Burton's original design. Its erection will depend upon whether sufficient funds will be subscribed in answer to the appeal of the Prince of Wales; but it will not be undertaken at the cost of the Government. I have not thought it necessary to consult the Royal Institute of British Architects upon any part of this scheme.

MR. PULESTON

asked whether the act of banishment of the present statue was irrevocable?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

The Government has decided to carry out the recommendations of the Committee, and the removal of the present statue is part of that recommendation. The amount will be involved in the proposal I shall make to the House to vote the £2,000 I have referred to.

MR. RYLANDS

said, that, in consequence of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, he should ask him to be good enough to give the House an assurance that this Vote would be taken at a time of night when it could be fully discussed; because, as the right hon. Gentleman appeared to have departed from the terms of the original understanding, he should raise the question when the Vote came to be discussed in Committee of Supply.

MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK

said, that the right hon. Gentleman had not answered a very important part of his Question. He wished to know who was responsible for this decision? The right hon. Gentleman said that the Committee were responsible. He should like to know who were the Members of that Committee? If the right hon. Gentleman was not able to give the House the names of the Committee at once, perhaps he would lay them upon the Table.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

The Government is responsible for the whole thing. I have no objection to lay the names of the Committee upon the Table. Among them are those of the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Wellington, Lord John Manners, Sir Thomas Brassey, Sir James M'Garel-Hogg, Lord Hardinge, Lord De L'Isle, Sir Frederick Leighton, Mr. Fergusson. Mr. Mitford, and others, which I do not for the moment recall.

MR. MONK

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would give an order for the removal of the present statue until the Vote had been passed by the House?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

No order will be given until after the money has been voted by Parliament. As to the removal of the present statue, no expense has yet been incurred.

MR. RYLANDS

asked who appointed the Committee?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

The Committee, as originally constituted, was appointed by myself; but several Members were subsequently added on the suggestion of the Prince of Wales.

MR. MAC IVER

gave Notice of his intention to move the rejection of the Vote, on the ground that no sufficient answer had been given to the Questions that had been put to the Government on the subject, and that the historical interest attaching to the present statue far exceeded any artistic value of any new statue.

LORD CLAUD HAMILTON

asked whether it was true that the name of Hyde Park Corner was to be changed?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

I mentioned some time ago that the name of Hyde Park Corner is to be changed to Wellington Place.