§ On the Question that 5,381l. be granted to defray the expenses of the School of Design in London and the other Schools throughout the Kingdom connected with it,
§ MR. EWARTtook occasion to point out room for improvement in the existing system. He thought that the provinces should find their own schools of design, receiving whatever assistance might be necessary from the Government.
§ MR. HUMEsuggested that the surplus of the sums received for registering designs, which appeared by the report which had been presented to the House to amount to 9,000l. might be applied to the purposes of the schools of design.
§ DR. BOWRINGthought the Government ought to establish some tribunal to decide on the copyright of designs, and would recommend them to follow the example of France in this respect. He believed the establishment of the councils of prud' hommes had done more than anything else to contribute to their excellence in this branch of art.
§ MR. BORTHWICKhoped there would be some limit to the system of following the laws of France, which was so often urged on them. He could not see why the tribunals which decided all other matters in this country could not decide on the copyright of designs also.
MR. HEATHCOTEwas understood to say that the property of all the designs which had ever been registered would not cover the expenses of one single case in the existing tribunals. As to the Registration Act itself, no one knew how it worked, or what service it was of, and it was therefore evident it could not last very long.
§ Vote agreed to.