§ 33. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the untidiness of the grass plots at the eastern end of Hyde Park between Stanhope Gate and Grosvenor Gate during the last six or seven weeks, at a time when London is crowded with foreign visitors; and whether he will make arrangements for the transfer of the bulbs in these plots to a more suitable position under the trees between the Marble Arch and Grosvenor Gate, so that the grass on these lawns can in future be mown and kept tidy during the months of May and June?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)I am aware that the grass has to be allowed to grow long on these plots for part of the year on account of the Spring-flowering bulbs naturalized in the grass. The attractiveness of these bulbs, when flowering in their present site in the Springtime, seems to me to outweigh the subsequent temporary disadvantages; and, in any case, in view of the pressing need for economy, I cannot at present contemplate 1470 going to the large additional expense of removing them to another site.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise the effect of these very untidy grass plots on the minds of foreigners, who will think that the national finances do not permit of their being properly kept up! Could he not engage a few unemployed to transfer the old bulbs to a place under the trees close by? The expense would be very small.