MOTION FOR RETURNS. (Hansard, 21 March 1870)

§ VISCOUNT HARDINGE
, in moving for Copies of Correspondence between the Office of Works and the Architect of the new National Gallery respecting the designs for the new building, said, that about a year ago he called attention to the great delay in the erection of the new building; since which time, he believed, nothing had been done beyond the appointment of Mr. Barry as architect, and the preparation by him of plans and designs. There was a rumour that the design sent in by Mr. Barry was not to be acted upon—in fact, that the present First Commissioner of Works had abandoned the idea of erecting a new Gallery, and proposed to make alterations in the present building to adapt it to what might be required. He hoped this was not correct, and that it was not the carrying out of a policy at which the First Commissioner hinted in his speech to his constituents; for it would be most unfortunate if, instead of erecting a building worthy of the nation, we were to patch and tinker the present 316 building, merely in order to save a little money. He hoped, at all events, that the recommendation of the House of Commons' Committee last year, that in future the plans and specifications of all public buildings in the metropolis should be lodged at the Office of Works, would be acted on, and that an adaptation scheme would not be decided on before Parliament had an opportunity of expressing an opinion on it. For an immense number of pictures room could not now be found, and many other bequests might be expected. He, therefore, protested against patching the present Gallery. Moved, That there be laid before this House, Copies of Correspondence between the Office of Works and the Architect of the new National Gallery respecting the designs for the new building.—(The Viscount Hardinge.)

§ EARL GRANVILLE
said, he had made inquiries of the First Commissioner of Works in relation to the Motion of the noble Viscount, and had ascertained that the correspondence to which it referred was not yet concluded. It would be most inconvenient to produce an imperfect correspondence, and therefore he could not accede to the Motion. He could assure his noble Friend that no great scheme for patching up the National Gallery had been adopted. The works now in progress were simply some alterations in the arrangements of the hall, and other matters of trifling importance.

§ LORD REDESDALE
said, that before we undertook any new buildings it would be well to complete those that were in course of erection. He had often called the attention of the House to the condition of the ground which had been purchased for the erection of the new Government offices in Parliament Street. The delay which had taken place in erecting the new offices was perfectly discreditable; and the site instead of being an ornament to the metropolis was simply a disgrace. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer had a large surplus, as was said, in no way could some of the money be better applied than in providing adequate accommodation for our public offices, which were now scattered, at very great expense, over a number of private houses, rented for the purpose, at the West-end of the town. If the contemplated new buildings were erected, valuable property 317 now occupied for the purpose of public business would be rendered available for letting, at rents which, would return no inconsiderable aggregate addition to the revenue. He trusted that before long some action would be taken by the Government in the matter.

§ EARL GRANVILLE
said, that the subject of the completion of the new buildings had been for a long time and was still receiving the careful consideration of the Government.

THE EARL OF CARNARVON
trusted that the Government would give the House some assurance that as soon as the correspondence to which the noble Viscount's Motion referred was completed it would be laid upon the table.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY
said, it was not the usual course for the Government to pledge themselves to produce a correspondence a portion of which was not yet in existence; but he should think that as soon as it was concluded there would be no objection to its production.