§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY moved the second reading of this Bill, the 808 object of which is to enable holders of valuable pictures and works of art under trust deeds to lend them if they were so disposed, notwithstanding the restrictions of the trust deeds, to the proposed National Portrait Exhibitions in London and the International Exhibition of Paris to be held next year. The works of art were to be intrusted to the President of the Council for the National Portrait Exhibition, and would be returned, as far as possible, without damage; but the Lord President was not to be personally liable for any loss or any damage any work of art might sustain.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(Lord Stanley of Alderley.)
THE MARQUESS OF BATHsaid, he did not intend to oppose the second reading of the Bill, but thought the third clause would require some modification in Committee. The President of the Council was not to be in any way responsible for any damage that might occur to the objects lent for the purposes of exhibition; and, indeed, it would appear by the Bill that no one was answerable. By the third clause trustees or guardians would be permitted to lend any of the works of art in their charge to an exhibition, without being liable for any damage; and the consequence might be the guardian himself, perhaps, having little interest in the work, that, through careless packing or rough carriage, a valuable picture might be injured or destroyed.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYreminded the noble Marquess that the Bill was entirely permissive. It compelled no one to lend their pictures—it only enabled them to do so; and of course none would lend a work of art without being fully aware of the conditions upon which it left their hands. He thought the noble Marquess would agree with him that it was impossible to make any one responsible for damage done to their pictures. Holders could lend or not, as they felt disposed.
THE MARQUESS OF BATHsaid, it appeared that the Bill was really for the purpose of enabling the British Museum to lend some of the articles which were in the custody of the Trustees. If the power to lend applied only to the owner he would have no objection; but here they were proposing to lend by the authority of trustees and guardians.
§ LORD OVERSTONEthought that the Bill if it passed into law would place 809 the Trustees of the British Museum and National Gallery in a very difficult position.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYreplied that if the trustees of national institutions thought there would be danger in lending the works of art it was proposed to borrow, they would of course not lend them.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, he did not understand that the Bill gave general permission to trustees to lend works of art under any circumstances, but only to certain specified exhibitions; and these loans under the immediate sanction and control of the President of the Council—the President of the Council being himself morally, though he was not legally, responsible for the safe custody of the pictures. In making the arrangements for the National Portrait Exhibition to take place this and next year, it had been felt that many most valuable and interesting historical portraits could not be obtained, because the trustees in whose custody they were had no power to lend them; and the Bill, therefore, was to enable the trustees to exercise their own judgment as to whether they would allow the pictures to be exhibited, under the control of the President of the Council, in the two cases named.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, the noble Earl had quite correctly stated the object of the Bill, which had reference to the Paris Exhibition and the National Portrait Exhibition only, in which the noble Earl had taken so much interest.
§ LORD TAUNTONsaid, that if the measure applied only to these two Exhibitions, he entirely approved of it; but there would be considerable objection to allowing the pictures to be lent for exhibition all over the country. If such a power were given, he was afraid the effect would be to prevent persons leaving works of art to the nation.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, that it certainly only was intended to apply to the two Exhibitions he had named; but if the wording of the Bill should appear too general, he should be happy to introduce in Committee any words which would make the proper restriction.
§ Motion agreed to:—Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Thursday next.