§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked the hon. Member for the Knutsford Division of Cheshire, as representing the Metropolitan Board of Works, Whether the Board have received and considered a letter from the Wandsworth Common Protection Association, respecting the damage now being done to the Common by the vehicular traffic of the carman and contractor tenant of the Patriotic Fund Commissioners, and with what result; is the action at law still pending between the Board, as Conservators of the Common, and the Commissioners, at what stage is it at this moment, and what are the actual issues to be tried in it; is there any way which the Board can devise for settling this dispute, and terminating the damage, otherwise than by litigation, between two Public Bodies both using public funds; and, is it a fact that, if the Patriotic Fund Commissioners succeed in the litigation, the effect will be that 19½ acres of land of the Common, which are admitted by the Commissioners not to be required for the purposes of their Trust, may remain a market garden for 42 years. and be a means of perpetuating the damage to the Common and annoyance and deprivation to the public using the Common?
MR. TATTON-EGERTON (Cheshire, Knutsford) ,in reply, said, that the Metropolitan Board of Works had received, and were considering, a letter from the Wandsworth Common Protection Society on the subject referred to, and the writer had been informed that it would receive due consideration. The action, it was hoped, might be averted if the negotiations were brought to a satisfactory conclusion. As to the last paragraph of the Question, the Metropolitan Board of Works were not in possession of the terms of the agreement between the Patriotic Fund Commissioners and their tenant.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The Commissioners have not granted any lease in the case in question for a period exceeding 21 years, nor do they stand committed to any renewal of the lease at its expiry. It is 1214 understood that the tenant is managing Director of a Company which carries on the work of carmen; but such a position has no connection with his tenancy of ground belonging to the Commissioners, nor could he, under the terms of his tenancy, make his land or farm buildings available for such purpose. Communications are at present taking place in a friendly spirit between the Commissioners and the Metropolitan Board of Works relative to a question of right of way on Wandsworth Common. Matters of such a character are managed by the Executive and Finance Committee of the Fund under the orders of the Commissioners.