On Thursday Mr. Lee asked the Secretary of State for
War whether he would state "what open spaces were available within easy march for the field training of London Volunteer corps; whether his official information showed that the places thus available were sufficient in size and number ; and whether the War Office intended to take any steps to secure the use of further open spaces for this purpose?" Lord Stanley stated in reply: "The War Office is thoroughly alive to the desirability of providing means for proper field training, but the cost of securing open spaces in the immediate neighbourhood of the Metropolis would be prohibitive. It is held that the main field training of Volunteers must be carried out in camp." Apparently Lord Stanley and the War Office are not aware of the existence of Richmond Park. If Lord Stanley will purchase a map of the environs of London—we must presume that the War Office has not got a map of the Metro- politan area—he will find that there is within an easy march of London an ideal open space for training troops which is public property, and for which already Parliament votes £5,000 a year. This open apace can be used without any cost what- ever.
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