PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS FIFTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1943 Session I, H-10

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1943 NEW ZEALAND

PATENTS, DESIGNS, AND TRADE-MARKS FIFTY-FOURTH 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

(The figures in parentheses are for 1941) 1 have the honour, in accordance with section 128, to submit my report on the administration of the Act during the year 1942. The business of the Office is indicated generally in the tables annexed. Patents Inventions relating to the war continue to show an increase, such as, for example, explosives and firearms 64 (34); aeronautics 25 (15). There was a slight decrease in telephony and telegraphy 227 (246). It is interesting to note, however, that nearly four times as many applications were filed in this class (which includes radio and similar apparatus) as in the class showing the next highest number of applications —namely, explosives. The reciprocal arrangements and co-operation existing with the British authorities in regard to war inventions continue to work satisfactorily, as well as the provisions instituted to ensure that the local inventions likely to be of value in the prosecution of the war are fully considered. During the year consideration was given to the question of improving various machinery provisions to meet more fully conditions which have arisen as a result of the war, and legislation has been drafted with a view to bringing the New Zealand Patent law in this respect in line with that in the United Kingdom. Trade-marks The decline in the number of applications received for registration of trade-marks which has naturally followed as a result of the war is still evident, and the number of applications received during the year was 136 less than in 1941. The advantages of the provisions of the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Amendment Act, 1939, in regard to registered user of trade-marks has been availed of to meet war conditions in many cases where overseas proprietors of trade-marks have been able to make satisfactory arrangements with New Zealand manufacturers. Emergency Regulations In a considerable number of cases advantage has been taken of the provisions of the Patents, Designs, Trade-marks, and Copyright Emergency Regulations 1940 in order to safeguard the rights of registered proprietors and applicants where inability to take the requisite action has been due to circumstances arising out of the war. Staff The difficulties caused by the loss of experienced staff are being mot, as far as possible, by the training of temporary appointees. Conclusion The appendix contains :— A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1942. 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 Trademarks recorded for the Years 1914 to 1942 (inclusive). A. H. Ihle, Commissioner of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. The Patent Office, Wellington, 27th April, 1943.

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APPENDIX

PATENT OFFICE A. —Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1942 Receipts £ Payments £ Patent fees ... .. .. .. .. 9,222 Salaries .. .. .. .. . . . . 4,457 Design fees .. .. .. .. .. 88 Fuel, light, power, and water .. .. . . 23 Trade-mark fees .. .. .. .. .. 2,289 Rent, maintenance, and repairs .. .. .. 369 Sales of Acts, Journals, &c. — £ Patent Office Journal .. .. .. .. 485 At the Government Printing Office .. ~ 65 Postage, telegrams, and telephones .. .. .. 133 At the Patent Office .. .. 4 Printing and stationery, &c. .. .. .. 325 — 69 Refunds .. . . .. .. . . .. .108 Balance: Cash in Public Aocount .. .. .. 5,768 £11,668 £11,668 A. H. Ihle, Commissioner of Patents. I hereby certify that the Statement of Receipts and Payments has been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly states the position as disclosed thereby. Copyright fees are not included.— Cyril G. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

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 1942 (inclusive)

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (473 copies), £3 10s.

By Authority: E, V. PAUL, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 943. Price 3(Z.]

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Year. Receipts. Payments. Surplus. Year. Receipts. Payments. Surplus. £ £ £ £ £ £ 1933 .. .. .. 11,695 4,379 7,314 1938 .. .. .. 14,754 6,790 7,964 1934 .. .. .. 12,376 4,709 7,667 1939 .. .. .. 14,134 6,846 7,288 1935 .. .. .. 12,869 4,477 8,392 1940 .. .. .. 12,241 6,076 6,165 1936 .. .. .. 13,276 5,222 8,054 1941 .. .. ..13,148 5,713 7,435 1937 .. .. .. 13,407 5,623 7,784 1942 .. .. .. 11.668 5,900! 5,768

Year. Patents. Designs. Trade-marks. Total. j Year. Patents. Designs. Trade-marks. Total. 1914 1,574 55 687 2,316 1929 2,251 125 1,359 3,735 1915 1,299 89 565 1,953 1930 2,103 169 1,265 3,537 1916 1,261 113 666 2,040 1931 2,065 151 999 3,215 1917 1,329 83 619 2,031 1932 1,845 164 925 2,934 1918 1,386 53 695 2,134 1933 1,761 143 814 2,718 1919 1,880 74 1,272 3,226 1934 1,766 146 915 2,827 1920 2,193 109 1,391 3,693 1935 1,730 185 943 2,858 1921 2,115 141 994 3,250 1936 1,836 124 1,096 3,056 1922 2,183 214 1,103 3,500 1937 1,832 193 889 2,914 1923 2,075 183 1,163 3,421 1938 1,960 160 860 2,980 1924 2,085 185 1,338 3,608 1939 1,821 137 694 2,652 1925 2,046 203 1,332 3,581 1940 1,277 108 626 2,011 1926 2 137 204 1,143 3,484 1941 1,214 108 534 1,856 1927 2,052 145 1,325 3,522 1942 1,104 60 398 1,562 1928 2,070 163 1,201 3,434