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1942. NEW ZEALAND.

PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS. FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER.

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

REPORT.

(The figures in parentheses are for 1940.) I have the honour, in accordance with section 128, to submit my report on the administration of the Act during the year 1941. The business of the Office is indicated generally in the tables annexed. Patents. As is to be expected the classes of inventions which show an increase in the number of applications filed in respect thereof are those relating to mechanisms of warfare, such, for example, as explosives and firearms 34 (26) ; marine and submarine 27 (12) ; building construction 23 (15) ; telephony and telegraphy 246 (223) ; and vehicles 44 (27). Reciprocal arrangements have been made with the British authorities in regard to patents in respect of war inventions, and co-operation has also been arranged between the Patent Office and the Inventions Board to ensure that all inventions which may assist in the war effort are investigated in conjunction with the service Departments concerned. Tbade-makks. The Trade-mark Regulations under the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Amendment Act, 1939, came into force during the current year, and the new classification of goods, based upon that adopted by the International Union for the Protection of Industrial Property, then operated. New Zealand, therefore, has now established uniformity with Great Britain and other unionist countries in this respect. The obvious advantages are that it renders possible the uniform registration of trade-marks in the various unionist and other countries which have adopted the scheme, and tends to reduce the number of classes in which a trader's mark need be registered. The opportunity was availed of as from the date when the new Trade-mark Regulations came into force to lay the foundation of modern systems of trade-mark indexing which will considerably facilitate the work involved in the gradual change-over of registrations from the old to the new classification. General. The difficulties arising out of the war in regard to industrial property are being met in New Zealand, as in other countries, by emergency provisions which, with appropriate safeguards, enable patent and other industrial property rights to be protected and maintained during the war with a minimum of formality. Staff. I regret to have to record the death on active service during the year of Pilot Officer R. J. Minnis. Mr. Minnis was a popular member of the staff and had a very creditable career in the Air Force. The following members of the staff are at present on war service: Messrs. W. F. N. Gardner, J. G. Gow, R. W. Walker, T. 0. Brandford, and H. C. Smith. Conclusion. The Appendix contains A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1941. B. Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years. C. Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trademarks recorded for the Years 1914 to 1941 (inclusive). A. H. Ihle, Commissioner of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. The Patent Office, Wellington, 15th June, 1942.