HC Deb 01 August 1850 vol 113 cc674-5

Order for Second Reading read.

COLONEL SIBTHORP

said, he wished to call the attention of the House to the different opinions which had been expressed by the late Attorney General and the present Attorney General with respect to the intended use of Hyde Park for the proposed Exhibition in 1851. Sir J. Jervis had stated— On the accession in each reign the parks, as well as the hereditary revenues of the Crown, were transferred to the Woods and Forests as trustees for the public. So long as the public—cestuique trusts—did not interfere, the commissioners had a right to erect buildings. But the present Attorney General said a few evenings ago— There was no right in the public to the enjoyment of the parks. The enjoyment of them depended solely on the grace and favour of the Crown. It was alleged that the Woods and Forests were trustees for the public. This he conceived not to be the law. That being the case, who was to decide? There were Lord Brougham, Lord Campbell, Mr. Justice Cresswell, Sir F. Kelly, Mr. Rolf, and, in fact, eight eminent lawyers to one, that these parks were the pro- perty of the public. He gave notice that next Session he should take the sense of House upon the vote for the support of the Parks, and the salaries of the officers of Woods and Forests.

In answer to a question from Mr. GROGAN,

MR. LABOUCHERE

stated, that the Bill had a double object—one was for the protection of designs generally, and the other was to protect from piracy those articles which might be Exhibited at the Exposition of 1851, or any other public exhibition.

MR. SPOONER

said, the House had had no pledge that in case of a deficiency for the purpose of the Exhibition of 1851, they should not be called upon to make up that deficiency. He objected, therefore, to the House pledging itself to the necessity of, or to the benefit likely to arise from the proposed Exhibition.

In answer to a question from Colonel DUNNE,

MR. LABOUCHERE

said, the Bill was not intended to revise and amend the law of patents.

MR. NEWDEGATE

said, that his constituents would, he feared, very much object to this Bill, since it would prohibit them from improving their designs and manufactures, which they were anxious to do.

The ATTORNEY GENERAL

said, that he believed the hon. Gentleman's constituents would be just the persons to wish it to pass. Persons who made inventions never allowed them to become public until they had secured a right to them by patent; and under this Bill the exhibition of these articles would not be such a publication as would prevent the obtaining of a patent.

MR. HENLEY

objected that the Bill was a one-sided measure. It protected the inventions of the foreigner, but did not protect English inventions from the piracy of foreigners.

Bill read 2°, and committed for Monday next.