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the patent classification, such as —aeronautics, 11 (6)* ; boots and shoes, 17 (10); bottles, bottling and glass working, 37 (29) ; boxes, cans, and casks, 52 (36); cooling and freezing, 20 (12); fibre-dressing (including ropemaking), 20 (9) ; Furniture, 40 (23) ; illuminating (except gas-manufacture), 138 (95) ; metal-working (including welding, stamping, and plating), 43 (29) ; milking, 71 (38) ; roads and ways (including road watering), 24 (14) ; and shop and hotel fittings, 25 (17). Decreases in the number of proceedings instituted occur in some classes, such as cultivating and tilling, 31 (40); dairying, 22 (30) ; electricity and magnetism, 59 (72) ; engines (air, gas, and oil), 19 (41) ; heating and fuel manufacture, 30 (43) locks, 15 (29). The road-safety campaign, both in this country and overseas, continues to be reflected in a still further increase in the number of inventions relating to safety devices for rail and road vehicles. One class of invention in which activity during the five years up to 1937 inclusive has been somewhat less in evidence is milking machinery. However, during 1938 a revival occurred, and the number of proceedings instituted was almost double that in 1937. The encouragement offered to secondary industries appears reflected in the added interest given to improvements in such manufactured goods as boots and shoes, bottles, boxes, cans and casks, fibre-dressing, furniture, metal-working, and the like. Increased activity in inventions relating to air transport is also noticeable in the Patent Office records, while considerable attention is still being devoted to illuminating. Designs. A decrease is shown in the number of design registration proceedings as compared with the number of proceedings instituted in 1937, there being 193 in 1937 and 160 in 1938, which brings the total number of proceedings instituted at this Office as at 31st December, 1938, to 4,255. Design registrations in force at that date numbered 1,010, of which 130 cases were registered during the year. Eighty-six registrations becarce void owing to the non-payment of renewal fees. Renewal of the term of copyright for the second term of five years was effected in 44 cases, while 14 were renewed for the third term of five years. The number of proceedings instituted by persons resident in New Zealand was 97 (109)* ; the next greatest number of proceedings instituted was by persons in Great Britain and Australia respectively. There wore 70 (90) proceedings instituted in Class 1, while 37 (48) were commenced in Class 3, 37 (29) in Class 4, and 6 (14) in Class 12 ; the remaining proceedings were spread over five classes, and in respect of the remaining six classes no proceedings were instituted. Trade-marks. It is satisfactory to note that during the year there was an increase in the amount received in respect of trade-mark fees, which totalled £3,772 6s. 10d., as compared with £3,490 15s. 6d. in the previous year. This constitutes the highest revenue in regard to trade-mark proceedings since 1931. The number of proceedings instituted for the registration of trade-marks during the year under review showed a slight reduction, as was also the case in Great Britain, the total being 860, as against 889 in 1937. The number of proceedings for registration commenced by persons resident in New Zealand was 326, as compared with 373 in the previous year ; Australia, 114 (123) ; United States of America, 76 (87); and Canada, 24 (43). There was an increase in the number of cases from Great Britain, 230 (219), and Germany, 52 (18). There were no applications from Japan, as against 3 in 1937. During the year under review the number of proceedings in Class 42 (substances used as food, or as ingredients in food), 128, was the same as in 1937. Class 42 is the class in which the greatest number of applications in any one class generally comes. In Class 3 (chemical substances prepared for use in medicine and pharmacy) there was a difference of one with the previous year, the figures being 100 and 101 respectively. The classes in which the next greatest number of proceedings came are Class 38 (articles of clothing), 87 (85), and Class 4-8 (perfumery, including toilet articles, preparations for the teeth and hair, and perfumed soap), 64 (71). There were increases in the number of applications in the following classes: Class 1 (chemical substances used in manufactures, photography, or philosophical research, and anti-corrosives), 38 (35) ; Class 6 (machinery of all kinds and parts of machinery, except agricultural and horticultural machines included in Class 7), 38 (31) ; Class 39 (paper (except paperhangings), stationery, and bookbinding), 37 (22) ; and Class 2 (chemical substances used for agricultural, horticultural, veterinary, and sanitary purposes), 31 (25). Patent Agents. The number of registered Patent Agents as at 31st December, 1938, was 16, one Patent Attorney who had been on the Register of Patent Attorneys for many years, having retired from practice.

* The figures in parentheses are for 1937,

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