THE COLONIST. Publishd Every Morning. Nelson, Monday, Feb. 17, 1908. THE PATENT LAW.

Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12168, 17 February 1908, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Publishd Every Morning. Nelson, Monday, Fe b. 17, 1908 . THE PATENT LAW.

The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minist9r of Labor, has found time to turn from the demands recently made upon his time by industrial disputes, to formulate a measure modifying tbe patent law of New Zealand upon lines which he has had in mind for some tme. Mr Millar hopes that the anactment of his proposals, if they reach the stage of enactment, will result in additional work for the factories of the Dominion, and possibly the establishment of more factories. The object of the proposed amendment j'a to require inven- ■ ; tors t6 manufacture patented armies in New Zealand, or to license other persons to dp so. A similar measure i is in existence in England, and also in Germany, |Franee and Amer- • ica, in which Countries it has beon productive of much industrial activity.- The 8511 proposed by Mr Millar gives Reasonable protection 'to an inventor until such time as he can make arrangements for the ■ manufacture' of his patent; ?n New >. Zealand, eHher bf establishing a *'■ factoiyor by licensing manufacurers to work the patent. If this is done, the patent will be fully protected, but otherwise, two years after the patent has been granted, the protection in New Zealand will lapse, and any person will hnvo a right to manufacture the aiticle without paying royalty. Mr Millar Iclievea that the Act will cause a big addition to the work of New Zealand manufacturers. Where thei-e is a large demand for a patent article it will be made in tho Dominion, but if a complicated piece of machinery is in use in only a fow places it would, no doubt, pay to still import it. The wbolo object of the Act is to make patentees wotk their patents in New Zealand instead of granting them a protection which wi«l enable them to charge as much as they please, while nobody can go into competition against them. The Minister contends that is a great; deal better to adopt such legislation tfhile the country is young, because a good many difficulties through prior claims and vested rights are thus avoided. An in- 1 justice under which the New Zea- i land users of certain American boot: making machinery labor will be \ removed by the proposed measure, i The machinery was bought under a form of hire-purchase agreement, and the document included an inno-cent-looking clause which stated .that the vendors were to have the right to add to the -machines any improvements which might be made to them during the currency of the agreement. The result was that the patent never expired, because there were always some new portions be ing added to the machines, profceefcting them, although th'xi really important patents had lapsed. Under the proposed Act the machine and additions would have to be manufactured in New Zealand to keep the patents alive. There may be something in Mr Millar's contention that if such a law is to be brought into operation at all, it should be done while the country is young, but as "a manufacturing country New Zealand will probably be young fifty years hence! The operation of the proposed Act would undoubtedly tend to provide employment for a certain additional number of mechanics, but it cannot be argued that the compulsory manufacture cf some articles in New. Zealand would tend to lessen the cost of the articles to the public. The tendency more lively would be in the opposite direction, for it would mean the installation ia many cases of cos*tly machinery to cater for what might be in the view cf manufacturers on a large scale, an inconsiderable trade. It might also easily mean that for a number ot years New Zealand might be altogether deprived of the use of valuable ; machinery, the patentees and proprietors of which might not be disposed to lay out large capital to capture *a comparatively insignificant . trade. In some directions no doubs the proposed new law would operate benefi eially to tho Dominion, but. wifchoui oonsiderable emendation its success ful working in its entirety is doubtful. The. Government could probably do more to protect the by some regulation of prices, ag tha United States Uovernment is now undertaking, than by unduly harassing, inventors and manufacturers.