§ 29. Captain WATERHOUSE (for Sir CYRIL COBB)asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that, notwithstanding consideration of the fees received, the use at intervals by a restricted number of persons of the tennis courts occupying a large area near the open-air theatre in the Regent's Park gardens deprives the general public on every day of the year of the enjoyment of this space as a lawn or flower garden; and whether he will transfer these tennis courts to a more suitable part of the park or seek permission to place them in the surplus space in Bedford College grounds, where there is available space for them?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWhen I took over the old Botanical Gardens, now Queen Mary's Gardens, there were nine tennis courts. Two have been abolished this year, and two are occupied by the tent used on wet days by the open air theatre. The lease to the contractor for the remaining courts expires next February, and it will then be a matter for consideration as to how many, if any, shall remain. I am devoting the money available this year to further improvements on the south and south west sides of the gardens. Bedford College is not under my jurisdiction.
§ 30. Captain WATERHOUSE (for Sir C. COBB)asked the First Commissioner of Works whether it is his intention to remove the cinders from the area near the open-air theatre and the tennis-courts in the Regent's Park gardens and to lay out the open space in a suitable manner?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is certainly my intention to lay out the whole of the garden in a suitable manner as funds can be made available.