INVENTORS’ ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18614, 9 July 1930, Page 5

INVENTORS’ ASSOCIATION.

FORMED IN TIMARU. The first steps towards the formation of an Inventors' Association in Timaru were taken last night, when a number of people met in the Foresters' Hall to discuss matters of interest to local inventors. Mr G. J. Wallace occupied the chair. Mr Wallace said that for nearly half a century he had been connected with inventors and inventions, and it was his opinion that the formation of an Association to assist local enterprise would be a step in the right direction. Mr C. G. Baker, in outlining the aims of the proposed Association, said that by the formation of an Association inventors would have some standing by which they could approach manufacturers and business houses with the object of keeping the manufacture of various articles in the Dominion, thereby assisting trade and also by combined effort, helping the inventor. The chief object would be to advise inventors whether their products were of commercial value, and if so the best way in which to place them on the market. If the Association could be formed Dominion wide, it would be advisable to have a central body in Wellington with a Dominion secretary and the Association’s own patent attorney, who would be at Wellington, the headquarters of the Patent Office, and who wouid be in a position to advise members as to their inventions first hand. Figures from the annual report of the New Zealand Patent Office showed that, for the population of the country the percentage was high, namely 1032 applications of .08256 per cent approximately, or twenty-first place in the countries of the world for patents issued. Pqtent fees received during 1928 amounted to £9615/8/9. The total receipts for 1923 totalled £13,302/10/11. showing a surplus of £7931 8 1. Over the last ten years the surplus derived from the Patent Department amounted to £70,574 T 9 9. The total applications for the past ten years amounted to 55.697 or an average of 2931 per year. The question of the formation of an Association was then fully discussed. I and a resolution that those present ! form themselves into an Inventors' | Association was carried unanimously. I

Mr G. J. Wallace was elected cb irman of the Association, and Mr C. G, Baker, secretary, pro tern.

An executive consisting of Mrs C. Bradbury. Messrs G. J. Wallace, C. G. Baker, J. Murray. A. A. E. Pennefather, J. Ridler and M. Rolls was formed to go more fully into the constitution of the Association and to report to a further meeting.