The House of Commons on Thursday voted, by 131 to
114, that no more national money should be paid for the main- tenance of the London Parks. As no other provision has been made for keeping them up, this was a most reckless vote, and, as an enormous injury to the capital, was naturally supported and cheered -by the Irish Members. It is believed that the vote—which, as it stands,mryonld reduce the Parks to unprotected commons—will bariescjided ; but the Govern- ment displayed some weakness in the Matter. Officially the Ministry -resisted the Bill ; but the Department of Public Works was unrepresented, the Secretary to the Treasury approved
the reduction, and Mr. Childers agreed with him, only advising that matters should remain as they were until the government of London had been placed in a more satisfactory condition. As England is just now under Irish government, the House naturally thought this a postponement to the Greek Kalends, and took the bit in its teeth. If the vote is not rescinded, the Parka must be placed temporarily under the Metropolitan Board, who must also be invested with the property-right in the rows and streets of houses which belong to the Parks. It.is noteworthy that Mr. Labouchere, who moved the reduction, never thought of these great properties at all, and had to be reminded of them by Mr. W. H. Smith. The middle classes now-a-days never agitate, or the House would have a crowd at its doors to which a Trafalgar Square mob is a mere group.
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