HC Deb 22 May 1884 vol 288 cc1005-6
SIR ROBERT PEEL

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether, as the opinion of the House of Commons had not been asked as to the removal from the capital of the Empire of the national monument of the Duke of Wellington, and after the recent vote in "another place," the Government would give the House an opportunity of expressing an opinion before the First Commissioner of Works proceeded with the further mutilation of the statue? He would also like to know if he would state to the House what the Government proposed to do in reference to the recent vote in "another place?"

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

Hon. Members will recollect that on the first night of this month, after a second and very full discussion of the proposal with respect to the statue of the Duke of Wellington, the House, by a majority of 219 to 108, or more than 2 to 1, affirmed the scheme, and voted a sum of £2,000 towards an order for a new statue to be erected in the centre of the place at Hyde Park Corner. The House of Lords had previously, by a majority, affirmed the same scheme, and I had also the approval of Her Majesty. Under these circumstances, I considered the matter to be concluded, and the controversy at an end; and I therefore at once gave an order to Mr. Boehm for a new statue, and requested that preparations should be made by the War Office for the removal of the existing colossal statue to Aldershot. These preparations are in a very forward state, and a commencement has already been made to take the statue to pieces with a view to its removal. I hope, therefore, it will not be considered that it is from any want of respect to the House of Lords that the Government feel unable to carry out the more recent Resolution of that House, and that it must complete the arrangements already agreed upon and which are in course of execution. The noble Lord the Member for North Leicestershire (Lord John Manners) and others on that side of the House will, I am sure, admit that I have been very anxious in this case to avoid controversy and to do what would be agreeable to all. If I have failed in arriving at a course which meets with general approval, it arises from the difficulty which is inseparable from all questions of taste and sentiment, and I am not aware of any other plan which would not have raised greater opposition. With respect to the first Question of the right hon. Gentleman, I consider the whole subject he refers to was fully discussed and settled in the debate on the Vote; and I cannot offer him any facilities for raising the question again.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

Perhaps I may be allowed the opportunity of expressing my sense of gratitude at the right hon. Gentleman's extreme anxiety throughout all these proceedings to conciliate, if possible, the views and the different interests involved in this question. I wish to ask him, however, what preparations are being made at Aldershot for the reception of the statue?

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

I do not know. Perhaps the noble Lord will put the Question to-morrow.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, whether he will not consider the advisability of gratifying at the same time the wishes of the right hon. Baronet and the people of Dublin by removing to London the Wellington monument there, which has long been an eyesore and a nuisance to the population?

[No reply.]