Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of keeping open the Patent Office Library to 10 p.m. as was the pre-War custom; and whether he is aware that to close the library at 8 p.m. means denying its use to many readers who are engaged during the daytime at some distance from the library, and to whom study at the library after hours of work is essential?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe decision to close the library at an earlier hour was made in the interests of economy, both as regards lighting and staff, and in view of the comparatively small number of persons using the library during the later hours. The hours have now been extended from 5 to 8 p.m., and I shall always be willing to consider a further extension if any general desire on the part of the public is shown.