§ MR. SUMMERBELLI beg to ask the first Commissioner of Works whether a number of men have recently been discharged at the central parks, the reason assigned being that the work they were engaged upon is now finished; whether he is aware that one of the men has been employed regularly for three years; and whether the paying off of men at this time of the year can be obviated, as is the case at several of the other parks.
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (MR. HARCOURT, Lancashire, Rossendale)Some casual labourers recently employed for short periods in the parks have been discharged on the completion of the work for which they were engaged, such as road repairs and the cleaning of the lake in St. James's Park. One labourer thus discharged had enjoyed a succession of jobs for three years; the other men had only been employed for a few months. I endeavour to arrange that as much work as is practicable shall be done in the winter, and I have spared no pains to obviate the misfortune of discharges at this time of year.