§ MR. LIONEL COHEN (Paddington, N.)asked the right hon. Baronet the Member for the Epping Division of Essex (as one of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners), Whether the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have informed the representatives of the parish of Paddington that a difficulty exists in carrying into effect a sale of vacant laud in Paddington, the joint property of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Paddington Trustees, which land is required by the parish authorities for a recreation ground, the scheme for that purpose being promoted as the Jubilee scheme for the parish;whether the difficulty arises from a difference of opinion between the joint owners as to the share of the proceeds of the land to which they would respectively be entitled, and not from any question as to the price to be obtained, which has practically been mutually agreed upon;and, whether, considering the public object for which the land is required—namely, that of securing for public purposes of recreation the only vacant laud in the densely populated parish, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners will endeavour to take such means as may remove the obstacle now apparently existing?
SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBESTON (Essex, Epping)My answer to the first and second paragraphs is, yes. In replying to the third paragraph, I would say that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners would be prepared to concur in the sale of the land for the Paddington Park at the price per acre suggested, provided that the money be placed in the hands of Trustees, who should invest the amount and pay to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Paddington Trustees respectively so much of the income as represents what they at present receive from the land to be sold, any excess of income being allowed to accumulate and being invested until the whole question at issue between the Commissioners and the Paddington Trustees be settled. I may say the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have offered and are willing to refer the question at issue between them and the Paddington Trustees at once to arbitration, the arbitrator suggested by them being Lord Selborne, Lord Hersehell, or Lord Bramwell.