H.—lo.

1932. NEW ZEALAND.

PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS. FORTY-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.

I have the honour, in accordance with section 128, to submit my report on the administration of the Act during the past year. A total of 3,215 applications for the grant of letters patent and for the registration of designs and of trade-marks was received during the year. It is satisfactory to record that this figure is only 322 less than the total for 1930, and in this connection it is to be noted that, while the total applications from oversea countries have fallen from 1,786 in 1930 to 1,273 in 1931, the number of applications from within New Zealand in 1930 and 1931 have risen from 1,751 to 1,943 respectively. This indicates a marked local activity in regard to industrial property at a time when the reverse might have been expected. The receipts for the year amounted to £13,390 11s. 6d., a sum which exceeds the average receipts (£13,326 10s. id..) of the Office over the previous five years. Expenditure to the extent of £5,466 7s. Bd. was incurred, being a decrease of £365 19s. 6d. on the corresponding figure for 1930. Patents. - The number of applications received during 1931 was 2,065, being 38 less than in the previous year. Applicants residing in New Zealand lodged 1,330 (1,104)* applications, while 736 (999) applications were lodged by residents of other countries. In 1,300 (1,078) cases the applications were lodged with provisional specifications, while applications to the number of 766 (1,025) were accompanied by a complete specification in the first instance. During the year 256 (256) complete specifications were left in respect of applications for which provisional specifications had already been filed. The total number of applications to the 31st December, 1931, was 68,295. The number of patents in force at the 31st December, 1931, was 8,671, made up as follows : Patents sealed and third-year fees paid from the 31st December, 1928, to the 31st December, 1931, 3,795 and 2,078 respectively; sixth-year fees paid from the 31st December, 1921, to the 31st December, 193], 2,790 ; patents in respect of which an extension of their term has been granted by order of the Supreme Court, 8. Restoration of lapsed patents was effected in two cases, and in two cases letters patent were sealed after the prescribed time. In one case an application was made to the Supreme Court to extend the term of letters patent beyond sixteen years, and an extension of three years was granted. Under the provisions of the Amendment Act of 1924, 12 (3) patents were endorsed " Licenses of Right." The amount of £9,231 17s. was received during the year in respect of patent fees, being £792 4s. 2d. less than that received in 1930. There has been a fairly large increase in the number of inventions recorded in the classes relating to lifting, hauling, and loading, 155 (41) ; building-construction, 74 (28) ; and furniture and upholstery, 73 (53). Increases also took place in the classes relating to boxes, cans, and casks, 100 (84) ; illuminating, 68 (59) ; kitchen utensils, 65 (56) ; heating, 55 (36) ; milking-machines, 46 (38) ; and wearingapparel, 59 (43). The main decreases occurred in electricity and magnetism, 86 (121) ; indicating calculating, and measuring, 50 (80) ; telephony and telegraphy, 180 (233) ; vehicles, 102 (138) ; and harvesting, 36 (51).

* The figures in parentheses are for 1930.