§ 24. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the evil odour at present arising from the ornamental water in St. James's Park, which in some cases has caused sore throats to those sitting by the water; and whether immediate steps will be taken to secure a remedy seeing that there is a large children's playground close to the lake?
§ Captain HACKING (for the FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS)Attention has been already drawn to this matter, and measures are being taken which it is hoped will provide an effective remedy.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the same nuisance occurred in 1910 and 1911, and that it was then successfully dealt with; and is the Office of Works considering whether the same treatment might not now usefully be carried out?
§ Captain HACKINGNo, Sir. The position is that the Office of Works, in order to effect economy, have not been running fresh water continuously into the St. James's Park lake, but they are now once more pumping water into the Serpentine from whence it gravitates down to the St. James's Park lake, creating thereby a current which will probably have the desired effect.
§ Mr. THURTLEHas the hon. and gallant Gentleman reason to believe that this trouble is due to the machinations of Moscow?