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INTERNATIONAL SITUATION The International Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property has remained in force notwithstanding the war, and the immediate problem is to restore rights which have been adversely affected or lost due to circumstances arising out of the war. This matter has received the attention of the Bureau of the Union at Berne, and proposals have been formulated which are now being considered. This matter is of considerable international importance, as the rights which arise under the Convention can only be claimed and exercised if special provisions are now made by international agreement to cover the emergency situation caused by the war. PATENTS With the end of World War II there has been a remarkable increase in the number of applications for patents. It was recently reported by the United States Patent Office that the number in that country had increased nearly 50 per cent, since the termination of hostilities and were then at the highest rate in the history of that Office. In Australia twice as many applications were received last year as in 1939. The number of patent applications in this country has also shown a substantial increase, and the total of 2,651 filed during 1945 is 400 in excess of the previous highest number recorded in 1929. Electronics, tele-communications, building construction, and chemicals are the principal fields to which inventors are now turning their attention. About 40 per cent, of the applications for the year were filed in these classes. Approximately two-thirds of the total number of applications for the grant of letters patent came from overseas, the principal countries being United States of America with 806 applications; Great Britain, 741 ; and Australia, 163. The number of applications filed by persons resident in New Zealand was 868. TRADE-MARKS The number of applications for the registration of trade-marks in 1945 was only 71 less than the long-standing record in 1920, when 1,391 applications were received. The principal classes were again : (a) Class 5 (pharmaceutical, veterinary, and sanitary substances), 193 ; (b) Class 25 (clothing and footwear), 160; (c) Class 3 (soaps and cosmetics), 113; followed by (d) Class 4 (industrial oils and greases), 95; (e) Class 1 (chemical products), 74; (/) Class 9 (scientific, &c., apparatus), 69; and (g) Class 24 (tissues (piece-goods)), 65. It is interesting to note the substantial increase in the number of applications received from persons residing in Great Britain, which heads the list with 456, closely followed by New Zealand with 451, and then United States of America, 256 ; Australia, 113 ; and all other countries, 44. CONCLUSION The appendix hereto contains the following tables, lists, &c., viz.:— A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1945. B. Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years. C. Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trade-marks recorded for the Years 1914 to 1945 (inclusive). A. H. Ihle, Commissioner of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. The Patent Office, Wellington, 18th June, 1946.

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