§ MR. FIELDTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can explain the reason of the contribution in lieu of rates in respect of certain portions of Phœnix Park being discontinued; whether he is aware that the Dublin County Council passed a resolution upon the subject in the interest of their ratepayers; and whether, seeing that the financial returns from Phœnix Park are much more remunerative than those from Brockwell Park, upon which the point was raised and a decision taken, he will, under the circumstances, advise the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to resume payment of the contribution paid for so many years to the local authority.
(Answered by Mr. Victor Cavendish.) The contributions for Royal Parks in England, Scotland, and Ireland were discontinued on the ground that no rate would be payable if the parks were in other hands than those of the Crown and used for the same purposes as at present. I am aware of the resolution referred to. The financial returns from Phœnix Park are but a small percentage of the cost of maintenance and do not affect the principle involved.