HC Deb 21 July 1893 vol 15 cc200-1
SIR B. SAMUELSON () Oxfordshire, Banbury

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether complaints have reached the Patent Office of the defective state of the illustrations in the abridgments, rendering them useless for reference; and whether he will give directions requiring them to be as distinct as those issued by the Patent Office of the United States?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, Brightside

Complaints with regard to the illustrations in the Abridgments have reached the Board of Trade, and I regret that they are too well founded. The Comptroller General of Patents has made every effort, as far as the funds at his disposal would permit, to have this difficult and important work carried out in a satisfactory manner. The Board will consider with him the best means of improving the illustrations in future issues.

SIR B. SAMUELSON

Will the right hon. Gentleman ascertain the real cause for this slate of things?

MR. MUNDELLA

It is lack of expenditure. I am improving the system, which is certainly not what it ought to be.