HC Deb 29 March 1923 vol 162 cc713-4
53. Major BARNETT

asked the First Commissioner of Works who is responsible for the wholesale mutilation of the trees on Primrose Hill; and whether an assurance can be given that similar methods will not be employed in the Regent's Park,

The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Sir John Baird)

The poplars on Primrose Hill were badly diseased, and the pruning was carried out after full consideration by experts as the only means of rendering them safe and healthy for many years. In Regent's Park the trees of this variety are few in number, but if found to be infected they will have to be treated similarly.

Major BARNETT

Is the right hon. Baronet aware that Primrose Hill now looks like a battle area on the Western front, and will he give an hour of his well-earned holiday to go and have a look at it?

Sir W. DAVISON

Will the right hon. Baronet consider the advisability of placing some hard wood trees, such as plane trees, between the mutilated poplars on Primrose Hill, which I saw a few days ago?

Sir J. BAIRD

I shall certainly consider the planes or, for the matter of that, ally other trees; but it is money of which we are short at the present time.