A POSTAL PATENT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 134, 3 December 1915, Page 2

A POSTAL PATENT

Mr. J. C. Lewis (Registrar of Patents) yesterday heard the opposition proceedings to an application for a patent, No. 34347, by Ernest William Philip Bucholz, of Wellington, sl&rebroker, as assignee to Henry Walker, an employee at the G.P.0., Wellington. Mr. J. H. Burn, engineer, of Petone, opposed the application. Mr. J. T. Hunter appeared on behalf of the applicant, and the opponent was represented by Mr. P. R. Climie, Christchurch. The invention in question related to a post-marking machine used for cancelling stamps on letters. In the course of the proceedings it was stated that the machine in question was the property of a syndicate which supplied the New Zealand Government. The machines had been made by Bum for the syndicate. Burn started patent machines on his own account and then severed his connection with the syndicate. Burn refused to make any more machines and threatened to supply the Government direct. This led to threatened proceedings. Walker's (the inventor's)- rights in improvements to the machine were bought out by the syndicate, of which Bucholz was secretary. A new machine was constructed and was put m operation at the G.P.0., but the Government did not acquire it. Mr. A. J. Parke, solicitor to the syndicate, cross-examined by Mr. Climie as to who was the founder of the syndicate said Mr. Donald Robertson in 1904 or 1905 found that the machines they were working were not very good. So he advised a post-marking machine, and camo to witness's firm in Wellington and got Mr. Bucholz to form a syndicate Mr. Climie : " Mr. Donald Robertson was really the founder of it, then?" Witness: "Mr. Bucholz was the founder. Mr. Robertson was the inventor.

Mr. Climie : "He was practically the principal member of the syndicate'" Witness: "He held most of" the shares, undoubtedly." The witness said, in answer to further g'7>, fa' *• first machine wa made by their engineers in Dunedin a veiy long time ago. But there was trouble with the "drive" of The ma dune .which was very noisy, and the trouble of communicating with Dun! edm was so great that Mr. R. C Kirk introduced Mr. Bum to the syndicate Wellinln Wh th thing 7? s shifte*^ Wellington. The machines made by Burn gave satisfaction as to make but not as to price After Mr. Climie had opened the case for the opponent to the patent, Mr. J ti. Burn gave evidence : He said that there were no patent rights in postmarking machines. Mr. Hunter showed him ■the patent *Ja% P°wer machine, which witness said he had been making for years before 1908, the date of the patent He had had no confidential relations with the Syndicate, and for five years did not know who were the members beyond Messrs. Robertson and Kirk VWien patents were brought to'him to make, the relations were always confidential to a certain extent, but when it was a case of making machines for years and putting brainwork into improvements, a man was entitled to the product of his work. He ceased relations with the syndicate because he considered he had not been treated fairly when a company with more capital was floated. They had taken his improvements, and allotted only £300 of shares to him. (Proceeding.)