H.—lo.

At the best of times the law relating to the subject-matter covered by the Act is regarded by the legal profession as not easy. In order to achieve the results aimed at it was inevitable that the new Act should introduce additional and more difficult provisions, which have been referred to by two well-known legal text-book writers as " a complicated piece of legislation abounding in crossreferences, provisoes, and exceptions." As was anticipated, therefore, the administration of the new Act has involved a considerable increase in the work of the Office, and many matters which, as the result of long years of experience and interpretation, could previously be dealt with safely and expeditiously in accordance with wellestablished principles have required the closest scrutiny during the year under review. Having passed the retiring-age in 1940, and been engaged on legal and patent work for over forty years, I have sought and obtained permission to retire from the Office I have occupicd since 1925. I have, however, indicated to the Hon. the Minister my willingness to assist in a consultative or similar capacity at any time I may be called on. Patent Agents. It is regretted having to report the death by accident of Mr. J. Campbell Peacock, of Wellington, a well-known barrister and solicitor, who had been a registered Patent Agent in practice before this Office for close on thirty-two years. The removal of Mr. Peacock's name from the register reduces the number of Patent Agents on the register as at 31st December, 1940, from 16 in 1939 to 15 in 1940. Conclusion. The appendix hereto contains the following tables, lists, &c., viz. : — A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1940. 15. Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years. C. Particulars of Fees received from Ist January to 31st December, 1940, together with the Corresponding Figures for the Years 1938 and 1939. D. Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trademarks recorded for the Years 1916 to 1940 (inclusive). E. 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 1939 and 1940, together with the Average for the Years 1934-38 (inclusive). G. Number of Applications for Patents for the Different Classes of Inventions in each of the Years 1939 and 1940, together with the Average for the Years 1934-38 (inclusive). H. Total Number of Applications for Patents, Letters Patent sealed, and Letters Patent in force for Full Term under the Different Patents Acts, up to 31st December, 1940 (inclusive). I. Number of Applications for Registration of Designs in each of the Fifteen Classes in each of the Years 1938, 1939, and 1940. 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 1939 and 1940, together with the Average for the Years 1934-38 (inclusive). K. Number of Applications to register Trade-marks in the Fifty Different Classes in each of the Years 1939 and 1940, together with the Average for the Years 1934-38 (inclusive). H. T. Atkinson, Commissioner of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. The Patent Office, Wellington, 30th May, 1941.

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