DECISIONS.

13

have returned exceed 417,000 superficial foot. Those demands exceed the amount of availablespace for the United Kingdom by about 210,000 superficial feet. The amount of wall spacedemanded is only 200,000 superficial feet, which is very much below that available.

60c. The number of persons proposing to exhibit is upwards of 8,200.

[Of the 8,213 original applicants, space was allotted in the first instance to 0,92 4 l)y the Local Com-mittees ; of tile latter number about 1,200 never exhibited anything, and about GOO were admittedeither at later request of the Local and .Metropolitan Committees, or as special cases, on the autho-rity of the Executive Committee.]

00d. The Commissioners have proceeded to adjust the proportions of IfLOOlt or COUNTEDspace which it appeared desirable to them that the Four Sections of the Exhibition shouldoccupy in the building. The amount of wall space yet available being very large, a con-siderable proportion can be applied in favour of those Exhibitors who are ablo to substitutevertical for floor or counter space, in respect of articles which otherwise could not be receivedfor want of room. The Local Committees are requested to make this known, and to apply forthis additional space whenever they consider the articles worthy of admission. The term“ IfWf,” not only includes vertical or hanging space, but also affords the means for the erectionof upright cases.

[Tbe term wall space was the cause of much misunderstanding, which would have, in a great measure,been saved by the means pointed out in a note on Decision 54. Upright cases fixed on the wall,of course practically occupied a certain portion of horizontal space, us the space under them wasrarely available for other Exhibitors.]

60c. Upon the average, furnished by the whole of the United Kingdom , and obtained bydividing the total amount of space apportioned to each section by the number of Exhibitorsin that Section, the Commissioners, as a general rule, have allotted to each Local Committeenil amount of apace in each Section, in proportion to the number of Exhibitors which havebeen returned by each Committee.

<»<)/■. The Commissioners are desirous that each Local Committee, in allotting space to theindividual Exhibitors, should, as far as possible, maintain the proportions of the Four Sectionsallotted to it, so that in the ultimate arrangement of the whole Exhibition, the space whicheach Section may occupy, should agree as closely as may bo with the spaces fixed by theCommissioners.

-<>(),(/. As in many cases the amount of space demanded by a Local Committee lias been ine-vitably reduced, and as it is essential in every case that only those Articles which do honourto our industrial skill as a nation should be admitted, it becomes indispensable that someselection should bo made, and it is most necessary that this should bo dono in such a manneras to represent tho industry of tho district with perfect fairness, and do the fullest credit toits industrial position.

(id//. The Local Committees will perceive that it would bo quite impossible on tho part ofthe Commissioners to send a sufficient number of persons possessed of technical knowledge todecide on tho merits of the varied articles of tho manufacturing districts. Tho Commissionerstherefore rely on tho Local Committees for the proper distribution of the aggregate spaceallotted to them. Tho Local Committees will readily understand from Decisions 103 to 107,that tho Commissioners recognize merit in whatever form it may present itself, and that theyare prepared to look for it in tho cheapest fabric, if distinguished as being superior in its class,as in the highest forms of artistic excellence. The success of the Exhibition, and the appre-ciation of our Industrial products by tho world, will to a great extent depend upon tho mannerin which tho Committees distribute the space allotted to them. Articles possessing none ofthe peculiar merits already indicated would be detrimental to this manifestation of industrialskill. In tho hands of the Local Committees, therefore, tho Commissioners leave with perfectconfidence the credit of their respective districts.

607. The Commissioners have caused copies of each application for space to bo transmittedto tho respective Local Committees for revision and correction where necessary. The LocalCommittees will proceed to give tho allotments of space, and to examine the applications withgreat deliberation. Should tho Local Committees feel authorized in allocating space toarticles, which either are not yet completed, or which they have not personally examined, theywill do so only with a full confidence m the character and manufacturing skill of the intendingproducer, and with tho entire conviction that tho article when finished will be peculiarlyworthy of exhibition. The Commissioners rely that all inquiries will have been duly made,and that tho Local Committees will bo fully satisfied before they give their vouchers for thoadmission of tho articles ; these vouchers will bo considered as tantamount to their unqualijiedapprobation- of the Arlichs, and will entitle the Articles to admission to the building. Shouldthe Committee desiro to call in tho aid of competent persons, not being members, they are ofcourso at liberty to do so.

60/. Although the Commissioners have made definite allotments of space to the Local Com-mittees, it will still rest absolutely with the discretion of each to determine whether they willadmit the present applicants ; and whether they will reduce or increase the space demandedby each applicant. In no case must a Local Committee increase tho amount of the total allottedto it by tho Commissioners. The Local Committees have full power, without any further appli-cation to the Commissioners, should iliey be dissatisfied on further investigation with the