§ 29. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the- Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the Epstein bas-relief which has been erected in the bird sanctuary in Hyde Park is now the property of the nation, by whom was the gift made, and by whom was it accepted on behalf of the nation?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe bas-relief was erected by a Committee formed to commemorate the work of the late Mr. W. H. Hudson. It is now the property of the nation in the sense that the First Commissioner has, with the assent of the Treasury, undertaken that his Department shall be responsible for its future care and maintenance.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDo I understand that, if the House of Commons refuses to vote supplies for its care and maintenace, it will be removed to some other position?
§ Sir H. CRAIKWill my hon. Friend represent to the First Commissioner of Works that, in view of these constant disputes, he should cease to sanction the erection of any of these memorials, and leave the parks to the trees and the grass?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe difficulty is that we really do not know which way public opinion is in this matter?
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this bas-relief has nothing to do with the memorial to W. H. Hudson, which is a bird sanctuary and lily pond: that the memorial inscription is on the stone work round the lily pond; and that the bas-relief could easily be removed to some other place, where the lady would suffer no further disfigurement?