SIR GEORGE HARTLEY (Islington, N.)To ask the Iron. Member for Chorley, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the wood and concrete of the now road in the Mall and the pathway between the freshly planted trees, which have only just been laid, are already being picked up to place telephone or other wires; whether he is aware that similar destruction of the road has already happened twice since September; whether he can say who is responsible for this, what is the extra cost involved, and out of what funds it is defrayed; and whether steps can be taken to lay all wires and pipes 727 that are likely to he required for some time before the road is again reinstated.
(Answered by Lord Balrarres.) The cables of the Electric Supply Company for lighting the Mall, now being laid, are in positions quite clear of the main roadway between the Queen Victoria Memorial and the present termination of the wood paving near the Duke of York's Column. As originally arranged, they are passing along the footways, which were specially left unfinished in view of this work. Where the Marlborough Gate roadway joins the new Mall, the taking up of a narrow strip of wood-block paving, and the forming of a chase in the concrete is unavoidable, because the high-tension mains of the company can only be laid upon what is known as the "solid" system, and this necessitates an open iron casing for filling in bitumen. No earlier facilities to meet this contingency could have been provided, pending a settlement with the company, nor could the work have been undertaken at the same time as the roadwork without postponing the latter, as the mains on the "solid" system take a long time to prepare, and are not kept in stock. The disturbance incidental to crossing the branch roadway is reduced to a minimum, and the expense is in-eluded in the cost of the cables as agreed upon with the company. This part of the work is chargeable to the Supplementary Vote passed for the works on the Mall. The First Commissioner is not aware of any telephone wires being required. As regards the roadway around the Queen Victoria Memorial, it was necessary to cross to the centre of the ring after the roadway was laid, and, for the reasons before explained, this had to be executed upon the "solid" system. All wires and pipes likely to be required will have been laid upon the completion of the present work.