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1927. NEW ZEALAND

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

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 128 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Act, 1921-22.

I have the honour, in accordance with section 128, to submit my report on the proceedings under the Act during the past year. The total number of applications received for the grant of letters patent and for the registration of designs and trade-marks was 3,484, as against 3,581, 3,608, and 3,421 in the years 1925, 1924, and 1923 respectively. The number of applications for letters patent pending at the end of 1926 was 1,991, as compared with 2,069 in 1925. The transactions for the year yielded a cash surplus of £6,589 18s. Bd., the total receipts being £12,426 os. Bd. and the payments £5,836 2s. The amount paid in salaries and temporary assistance was £3,437 19s. 9d., as compared with £3,474 15s. lid. in the previous year. General Administration. Satisfactory arrangements have been made in regard to the question of staff reorganization, which was the most urgent problem affecting the Office last year. In the report for 1925 it was stated that there were grounds for expecting the approval of recommendations directed to stabilizing the staff and to using the experience of its members to the best advantage. lam pleased to report that the recommendations have been adopted substantially in toto, and that the Office has now the best permanent nucleus staff that was available. Further adjustments are under consideration. On these being made, and changes of personnel being reduced to a, minimum, a suitable group of trained officers will become available to meet the normal requirements of the Office on its present lines. A redistribution of duties has been effected during the year, and attention has been given to improving the Office system. As a result a substantial portion of the work is now disposed of at a considerably increased speed. Efforts to bring about general acceleration are being steadily maintained and are producing satisfactory results. Copies op Specifications of Inventions. The printing of specifications of inventions, and their sale at a nominal price, are recognized internationally as of considerable importance. Great Britain prints her specifications, and the same course is adopted by the Patent Departments of Canada and Australia. If specifications are printed, inventors and those engaged in scientific research can obtain a rapid and economical survey of what has already been contributed to technical knowledge by patented inventions. The remarks of Fletcher Moulton (" Letters Patent for Inventions," 1913, Preface) in regard to industrial prosperity in Great Britain apply with almost equal force in New Zealand. He says : — The English law of letters patent is of the greatest interest both from the legal and the commercial point of view. It was the forerunner and the model of the patent laws of all countries ; in the past it has greatly helped to build up the commercial supremacy of this country, and on the certainty and justness of this law and its administration depends to-day the willingness of capital to assist in developing new inventions." If, therefore, New Zealand is to receive the full benefit of the excellent patent system that she undoubtedly possesses it will be necessary for her in the future to adopt the tested policy of overseas Patent Departments and to print the specifications that are submitted to this Office.

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