§ SIR RICHARD TEMPLE (Worcester, Evesham)I beg to ask my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works a question of which I have given him private notice, and that is whether he will take into consideration the complaints of the men on the establishment at the Royal Gardens at Kew and at other Royal Parks?
§ *THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) Dublin UniversityI am aware of the great interest taken by my hon. Friend in this question, and, as the House knows, on more than one occasion during the present Session my hon. Friend has endeavoured to press it upon the attention of the House. I have since conferred with my hon. Friend on the subject; and while I am not prepared to admit that the alleged grievances of the staff employed at Kew are really so substantial and well-grounded as my hon. Friend thinks they are, still, as I know that a good deal of feeling exists on the subject in the neighbourhood of Kew, and, to some extent, among the employees there, and as I am desirous, if I can, to set at rest such discontent or uncertainty as may exist, I think on the whole that the best plan will be to appoint a small Departmental 580 Committee to investigate these questions. The appointment of such a Committee is, I believe, what the employees at Kew desire, and it is not objected to by the Director of the Gardens. The case of the staffs employed in the other Royal Parks in the Metropolis will also be submitted to this Committee.
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN (, &c.) StirlingDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it would be desirable to put on the Committee both the candidates for the representation of the Kingston Division?
§ *MR. PLUNKETI have not the least intention of doing so; but if the right hon. Gentleman is desirous of serving on this Committee, which will conduct its investigations while the General Election is in progress, I shall be happy to nominate him.
§ MR. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)Will the case of the employees at Hampton Court be included in the inquiry?
§ *MR. PLUNKETYes.