HC Deb 14 April 1851 vol 116 cc146-7
SIR DE LACY EVANS

said, he wished to ask the right hon. President of the Board of Trade a question relative to space in the Exhibition building being granted to exhibitors of inventions, who have been hitherto restrained from making application, or sending in their goods, by the delay which has taken place in passing the Designs Act Extension Bill.

MR. LABOUCHERE

said, that what had taken place was this. It was necessary for the Commissioners and the Executive Committee to know, at an early period, what amount of space would be required, and what articles would be sent in for exhibition; and the parties requiring space had been called on to send in their claims before the 31st of October last. The result was that twice the space the Commissioners had at their disposal was applied for. The various claims were referred to the local committees for selection; and they were advised at the same time what space could be allotted to each district. With regard to subsequent applications, such as those referred to, wherever, from unforeseen circumstances, any vacant space was left, owing to parties not sending goods who were expected to do so, or from any other cause, it was the object of the Executive Committee to distribute that space in a manner which would be most useful to the Exhibition, and most just to the various exhibitors. He had been asked whether there existed any intention on the part of the Board of Trade to make use of that power which was given them in an Act lately passed, to license any other place where persons having inventions which they had not been able to get into the Exhibition, might exhibit those inventions. He did not think the Board of Trade would he justified in extending those provisions of the Act to any exhibition except that in Hyde Park. But should it happen, contrary to his expectation, that inventions were excluded whose number and importance justified such a course, it would be in the power of the Board of Trade to adopt it. As far as his information went, he did not think there was at present any cause which would justify the Board of Trade in exercising that discretion.