UNKNOWN

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 3

UNKNOWN

TO THE EDITOR.

am,—Permit me as one of the inventors spoken of in your issue of yesterday, In a letter under the above heading, to thank the writer for his remarks, as it gives me an opportunity of offering a few suggestions to my brother inventors. While fully recognising the advantages of such help as your correspondent mentions, and the undoubted superiority of such an investment over the introduction of stoats and weasels, yet I think it is: in the power of inventors to a considerable extent to help themselves. An inventor with limited means is, of course, at a great disadvantage in many whys. He must either keep his invention in the dark or depend upon the help of friends for the introduction of his ideas to the public. It often happens that the friends are not of an inventive or mechanical turn of mind, and he has great difficulty in convincing them of the value of his invention. Again, if he protects his invention in New Zealand, where the cost of protection is small, he runs the risk of having his ideas stolen and patented in other parts where the scope and demand is greater. What I would suggest is that the inventors, of Auckland should meet together atad form themselves into a society, to be called "The Inventors Society," or " The Inventor's Institute," such Society to have for its object the assistance of inventors in protecting and carrying out their ideas, or in other words, the inventors agree to assist each other. By this means really good inventions might be protected in all countries. The Society to have agents in all huge centres like New York and London, and so afford a ready means of disposing of inventions likely to bo of profit, as well as protecting them. Of course we should want an agent here, and funds to carry on the work. This could bo provided, . first: By an annual subscription from the members, by means of lectures, &c. An exhibition of all colonial inventions might be held, which I think, would be interesting, and do much towards making the' public acquainted with the merits of the inventions, and the profits would be a considerable addition to the funds of the Association. Inventors in all parts of the colony could be asked to join, and an exhibition held annually at one of the cities in rotation. If any of my brother inventors think well .of this proposition, let no time.be loatj let us meet and arrange details. I am afraid I should trespass too much on your space were I to attempt that here.—l am, &c,, : JohnCkook.