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No. 2

New Zealand, No. 245. My Lord, — Downing Street, 22nd November, 1920. With reference to Mr. Bonar Law's despatch, No. 247, of the 31st December, 1915, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that Dr. Victor G. Heiser, Director for the East of the International Health Board, proposes shortly to visit New Zealand and Samoa to investigate the public-health activities that are being carried on by representatives of the International Health Board, and to ascertain in. what further ways the Board can co-operate with the Government of the Dominion of New Zealand i/i promoting public health. 2. I have no doubt that your Ministers will welcome Dr. Heiser's visit, and will extend to him all possible facilities for the purpose of his investigation. 1 have, &c, Governor-General His Excellency the Eight Hon. MILNER. Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M./G.C.V.0., &c.

A.-l, 1921, No. 1.

No. 3. New Zealand, No. 258. My Lord, — Downing Street, 2nd December, 1920. With reference to Lord Liverpool's despatch, No. 71, of the 15th May, on the subject of the institution of a British Empire Patent, I have the honour to request Your Excellency to inform your Ministers that as regards their criticisms of the proposed scheme the Board of Trade desire to make the following observations : — (1.) There would appear to be no reason why the work of recording, indexing, and classifying applications and specifications lodged throughout the Empire should not be done by the Central Office. In fact, it would seem highly desirable that the printing of specifications and indexes should be centralized as far as Empire patents are concerned. Each Dominion could, of course, prepare such indexes of its own patents as it thought desirable. (2.) As regards the possible loss of revenue to the New Zealand Government which might be entailed by the adoption of the scheme, while the revenue might suffer to some extent from the fact that a certain number of inventors would not file separate applications for patents in New Zealand, this loss would to some extent be met by the curtailment of the expenses of the office in so far as the work at present done by the New Zealand Office would be done by the Central Office. (3.) The objection raised with regard to the necessity for printing specifications might be met by the Central Office undertaking the duty as suggested above. (4.) As regards the possible delay in the publication of specifications, this would no doubt occur to some extent, but, since specifications are not at present printed in New Zealand, any delay which might occur would not appear to affect the public seriously in New Zealand. Moreover, it may be noted that delay does at present arise as regards applications filed under the International Convention, such applications not being open to inspection until twelve months after the date of filing in the country of origin. The disadvantages which might arise in this respect under the proposed scheme would not, it is thought, be much greater than at present exist. The normal time for acceptance in England is fifteen months from the date of application ; if this were retained for Empire patents and were taken advantage of by inventors, which would not happen in every case, it would merely be an extension of three months beyond the time fixed for the publication of specifications filed under the International Convention. (5.) The Board of Trade are of opinion that all these questions are such as might well be discussed at a conference of technical delegates, and they hope that the New Zealand Government will see their way to take part in the proposed conference. The Governments of Canada, Newfoundland, and India have agreed to participate in such a conference, while the Board of Trade are still in communication with the Governments of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Union of South Africa on the subject. I have, &c, MILNER. Governor-General His Excellency the Right Hon. Viscount Jellicoe, G.C.8., 0.M., G.C.V.0., &c.