19 AUGUST 1911, Page 3

The proposal to acquire the derelict Shadwell Fish Market and

turn it into a public park as part of the King Edward Memorial is being very strongly backed, and we have every hope that the Mansion House Committee, who have already decided to devote part of their funds to a memorial in the East End of London, will adopt this particular scheme. A House of Commons Committee has been formed to urge the acceptance of the Shadwell proposal, and the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association is heartily in favour of the scheme. The subject was raised in the House of Commons on Tuesday, when Mr. Dudley Ward stated, on behalf of the Government, that the scheme was so little advanced that discussion would be of no profit. He gave an assurance, however, that nothing would be done without consultation with Parliament. We cannot imagine a finer site for a memorial of King Edward than a park at Shadwell, nor a memorial of greater public utility. At present there is no direct approach to one of the noblest reaches of the river between the Tower and the east end of the Isle of Dogs. We ourselves should like to see a statue of King Edward very plainly visible to every ship coming to the Port of London or to the West India or Com- mercial Docks. But we agree that no statue should be allowed to take up too much room in the park. It should be part of the decoration of a terrace overlooking the water.