COPYRIGHT OF DESIGNS BILL—EXHIBITION OF 1851. (Hansard, 10 August 1850)

§ COLONEL SIBTHORP
said, that in consequence of the unsatisfactory replies given by the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the First Minister of the Crown, to questions respecting the expenditure of public money for the Exhibition of 1851, he begged to repeat the questions he had already put on this subject. He had a right to call 1010 on the Government to state whether they intended to propose a grant of public money for this purpose or not, and he considered it most unfair and unparliamentary in Ministers to refuse a distinct answer. He thought it would be a gross abuse of the public funds to give one sixpence for such a purpose. Let them say at once, in plain terms, whether they meant to give anything or not. The articles to be imported for this Exhibition were to be admitted without duty, and though it was pretended that when they were taken out and sold the duty was to be paid, he ventured to say they would be allowed to be sold without any duty at all. Where there was a will there was a way. There was such a thing as a Government seal, and smuggling might be permitted. He should feel bound to move a resolution "that it is expedient not to advance or expend any sums of public money for the purpose of carrying into operation the works of the proposed Exhibition of 1851," and he should divide the House upon it, unless he had a distinct declaration from Ministers that they would not make any proposition to the effect he had stated.

§ MR. SPEAKER
informed the hon. and gallant Member that the House could not entertain his Amendment, as the Bill before the House was for amending the Act relating to the copyright of designs, and there was nothing in the preamble which concerned the Exhibition of 1851.

§ COLONEL SIBTHORP
said, he had had his say, and did not care.

§ MR. LABOUCHERE
said, that he should move the third reading, as well as the report, on Monday.

§ COLONEL SIBTHORP
objected to this as a most unusual course.

§ MR. SPOONER
thought it would be much more satisfactory to the public, if they had a distinct statement from the noble Lord at the head of the Government that no public money would be required for the purposes of this Exhibition.

§ SIR H. WILLOUGHBY
begged to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he had any objection to give an assurance to this effect?

§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said, on this as on other occasions on which the subject had been broached, he must refuse to give any such pledge or 1011 promise as was demanded of him, and he hoped the hon. Member would not press his request. He had only to say that means had been taken for providing for the whole expense of this Exhibition. His noble Friend and himself had said so, he would not say how often in the course of this Session, but certainly very often, and nothing had occurred to make any changes in their views and intentions on the matter necessary.