68 ART GALLERY. 
any special fire risk, is likely to affect pictures hung near it. These 
five rooms are now devoted to the exhibition of Foreign and British 
Old Masters, including the Roscoe Collection, and other pictures 
deposited by the Trustees of the Liverpool Royal Institution. 
Specially-designed cases have also been provided in each of the 
small front rooms for the exhibition of miniatures, illuminations, etc. 
The new Cloakroom constructed in an unused part of the cart-yard 
has been completed, and it is found of great assistance to the staff 
in dealing with the deposits of cloaks, umbrellas, etc., and also the 
sale of photographs. In connexion with the latter, a new opening 
to the east back room provides special facilities. 
In addition to the re-arrangement of the telephones, with an 
exchange in the cloakroom, a special connexion has been formed 
with the Central Fire Police Station. 
During the troubles in connexion with the Railway Strike in 
August, a number of panes of glass in the windows on the east side 
of the building were broken by rioters. The cost of replacing, 
amounting to £12 18s. 0d., was borne by the Watch Committee. 
Prior to the falling due of the renewal premiums for insurance of 
the Permanent Collection against fire, I entered into negotiations 
with the offices concerned, with a view to a revision of the rate 
charged, having regard to the exceptional character of the risk. 
Eventually, I was able to obtain an abatement of 1s. per cent., which 
will result in a saving of £68 on the total annual premium. The 
sum for which the Permanent Collection is now insured, including 
£3,100 added during the year, is £156,562. 
My attention having been drawn to a clause in the new Copyright 
Bill, which was calculated to prejudice and perhaps destroy the 
Corporation’s copyright in pictures in the Gallery, I approached 
the Imperial Arts League with a view to protective action, and, ata 
conference on the subject held at Leighton House, at which there 
was arepresentative gathering, I was appointed on a Sub-Committee 
to take such steps as were possible to get the Bill amended. Lord 
