H.—lo

1919. NEW ZEALAND.

PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS. THIRTIETH ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR.

Presented, to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 113 of the Patents Designs, and Trade-marks Act, 1911.

1 beg to submit my report on the proceedings under the Act for the year 1918. The total number of applications was 2,134—96 in advance of the previous year's figures. With the close of the war the business has very considerably increased, and is already back to its pre-war state, the applications for the first six months of the current year numbering 1,548, as compared with 1,275 received in the first half of 1913. The revenue of the Office was £8,175 19s. -£1,250 19s. 9d. more than in 1917, and the highest yet recorded. The expenditure was £2,831 9s. Id. —£426 15s. lOd. less than in 1917, and about the amount expended in the preceding year. As mentioned in my former report, owing to the receipt at the same time of the seventh year's fees under the old Act and the renewal fees under the present Act the revenue must be regarded at present as being somewhat abnormal, and a slight fall looked for' unless the discontinuance of the fees under the old Act is balanced by the increase in fresh business! which will probably prove to be the case. The amount received over that expended since Ist January, 1890, is £84,901 Bs. 4-d. It is doubtful, however, whether a large surplus can be regarded as wholly satisfactory till all possible steps have been taken to more fully carry out the objects of the Act in the, promotion of invention and industry. Proceedings under War Provisions. In pursuance of the regulations for the withholding of publication of inventions on account of the war, while it was on forty-three cases, chiefly from abroad, were withheld. Only in very few instances was it considered worth while withholding local inventions from publication. The regulations also required notice to be given of intention to apply for letters patent abroad and notice was so given during the existence of the regulations in 1,102 cases in accordance with Table 11 in the Appendix. In conformity with the action taken by the Imperial authorities, payment of fees by residents of this country for obtaining or maintaining patents or trade-marks in enemy countries and by residents of such countries lor similar privileges in New Zealand was authorized by license dated the 17th March, 1915, but the authority to make such payments was revoked on the 12th September 1918. No applications were received during the, year in pursuance of the provisions for suspending the registration of enemy trade-marks. The total, number of cases in which suspension was applied for was 6 : suspension was effected in 2 cases, and 1 case was not proceeded with. No licenses for the use of enemy patents were applied for during the war. General. Though attached to the Justice Department (the Under-Secretary of which was formerly also Registrar of Patents) the Office, appears to be placed by the Act under the administration of the Registrar, and it is submitted that he, be granted the control which seems to be intended, and which is exercised by the heads of the Australian and other Patent Offices.

I—H. 10.