Norwich stood the very lowest on the list of the towns of England with regard to this question of recreation grounds. They had waited and waited until the difficulty of providing such places had greatly increased, while if they waited longer these difficulties would become almost insuperable. When he first started in this matter he could have found, or had the offer of, several open places, but those were now built over. He, at that time, took a great deal of trouble in the matter, but soon found that notwithstanding the support given him by several prominent citizens, it was far too large a matter for a single individual to carry through; but now he had the honour of a seat in the Council he claimed their attention, and, if possible, their powerful sympathy and support. They might ask where was the demand for recreation grounds. He asked those who had children to bring up whether they would allow them to play in narrow streets and crowded courts breathing impure air? What was the reason of there being so many puny, delicate, and small children? He ventured to say this was almost entirely due to the unwholesome surroundings in which they were brought up. He mentioned that in Glasgow recently, one medical man lecturing in that city said that in one year he had treated 330 cases of children with deformed bones—bent legs, bent thighs, knock-knees, etc.—which deformities were entirely due to the want of proper development and to their unwholesome surroundings. Much superior in many respects as Norwich was to Glasgow, he ventured to say that the same condition of things existed here. But the demand for places of recreation was, he contended, proved by the fact that whenever a plot of ground was cut up for building purposes, children crowded there from all parts of the city to play, and this they continue to do until driven away by the advance of bricks and mortar. Then, too, Chapel Field, when it was open, was often taken advantage of by 500 and 600 children and others, who went there for play and enjoyment. After making other observations as to the need of such places, Dr. Eade said there were two ways in which the want might be supplied. Playgrounds could not be taken close to every door; but in every new district care should be taken to secure the setting apart of a certain amount of space for the children. One plan he would suggest was that at various points in the city a field should be purchased and thrown open to the children; and another plan was to purchase or hire a large space which might be converted into a people’s park, with a small portion set apart for the use of children.