H.—lo.

Designs. The number of applications for registration of designs lodged during 1931 was 151. This number is 18 less than in 1930. The total number of applications up to the 31st December, 1931, was 3,140, and the number of registrations in force at that date was 876, of which 128 were registered during the year. Renewal of the term of copyright for the second term of five years was effected in 18 cases, while 12 registrations were renewed for the third term of five years. 172 design registrations became void during the year by reason of the non-payment of renewal fees. Applications from persons resident in New Zealand totalled 110 (112) ; 21 (22) were from Great Britain ; 17 (29) from Australia ; 1 (5) from the United States of America ; 1 (1) from Holland ; and 1 (0) from Germany. The majority of the applications were lodged in respect of articles included in Classes 1, 3, 4, 5, and 11, the figures for each class being 36, 38, 27, 15, and 14 respectively. The remaining 21 applications were spread over six classes. In four classes no applications were lodged. The fees received during the year amounted to £114 11s. Trade-marks. During the year fewer applications for registration of trade-marks were filed than in the previous year, the number totalling 999, which is 266 less than in 1930. Decreases were most marked in the number of applications from the United States of America, Great Britain, and Germany. The actual decrease in the number of applications for the year from persons residing in New Zealand was only 32, and the number of applications from the Commonwealth of Australia exceeded the number for the previous year by 21. Although there were fewer applications for registration of trade-marks than in the previous year, the total fees paid in respect of trade-marks showed an increase on 1930, the amounts received being £3,966 12s. Id. and £3,905 4s. lid. respectively. It is also satisfactory to note that the number of current applications before the Office gives definite indications that improvements in trade may be anticipated. As is generally the case, the greatest number of applications in any one class was in Class 42 (substances used as food or as ingredients in food), there being 193. Next in order comes Class 3 (chemical substances used in medicine and pharmacy), with 110. Then follows Class 2 (chemical substances used for agriculture, horticulture, veterinary, and sanitary purposes), in which there were 59. A substantial falling-off is noticed in the number of applications in Class 8 (philosophical instruments, scientific instruments, and apparatus for useful purposes ; instruments and apparatus for teaching), there being 34 as against 65 in the previous year ; the average for this class for the five years prior to 1930 being 70-8. The average for the five years prior to 1930 for Class 22 (carriages) was 22-6, while during the year under review only 9 applications in this class were received as compared with 13 in 1930. Class 38 (articles of clothing) showed an increase, 83 (77). Patent Agents. The number of patent attorneys on the register as at 31st December, 1931, was 18, one name having been removed during the year. Conclusion. The appendix hereto contains the following tables, lists, &c, viz. : — A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1931. B. Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years. C. Particulars of Fees received from Ist January to 31st December, 1931, together with the Corresponding Figures for the Years 1929 and 1930. D. Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trademarks recorded for the Years 1910 to 1931 (inclusive). Ē. Number of Provisional and Complete Specifications received, &c. F. Number of Applications for Patents from Persons residing in New Zealand or Dependencies, &c, and in other Countries in each of the Years 1930 and 1931, together with the Average for the Years 1925-29 (inclusive). G. Number of Applications for Patents for the Different Classes of Inventions in each of the Years 1930 and 1931, together with the Average for the Years 1925-29 (inclusive). H. Total Number of Applications for Patents, Letters Patents sealed, and Letters Patent in force for Full Term under the Different Patents Acts, up to 31st December, 1931 (inclusive). I. Number of Applications for Registration of Designs in each of the Fifteen Classes in each of the Years 1929, 1930, and 1931. J. Number of Applications for Registration of Trade-marks from Persons residing in New Zealand or Dependencies, &c, and in other Countries in each of the Years 1930 and 1931, together with the Average for the Years 1925-29 (inclusive). K. Number of Applications to register Trade-marks in the Fifty Different Classes in each of the Years 1930 and 1931, together with the Average for the Years 1925-29 (inclusive). H. T. Atkinson, Commissioner of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. Patent Office, Wellington, sth August, 1932.

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