H.—lo

2

The large number of cases released by foregoing provisions has meant a considerable addition to the ordinary work of the Office. While being gradually cleared off, there still remain a number of cases which have been held, up to be dealt with, and, of course, examination, &c, of ordinary cases has been thrown somewhat in arrear, particularly as the number of such cases is being well maintained. It is hoped, however, to clear off arrears at the earliest possible moment and deal with applications with the usual expedition. Patents. (The figures in parentheses are for the year 1919.) The number of applications received during 1920 was 2,194 (1,880), of which 984 (995) were filed with provisional specifications and 1,210 (885) were complete; 283 complete specifications were lodged during the year in respect of applications with which provisional specifications have been filed. The total number of applications received to the 31st December, 1920, was 45,118, and the number of patents in force as on that date was 5,209. The amount received in patent fees during 1920 was £7,156 1.25. 9d. The number of assignments, licenses, &c, of patents entered on the Register in 1920 was 106 (71). The amount of fees received in respect of the restoration of lapsed patents was £33, as against £53 received in 1919. Forty women inventors lodged applications during the year under review. Eight patents of additions were sealed during the year. Countries from, which Applications received. Of the 2,193 applications 1,155 were received from residents of New Zealand in 1920, while in the previous year out of 1,880 applications 1,104 were by persons residing in this country. From Australia 276 (Victoria 143, New South Wales 111) came to hand, as compared with. 24.3 (Victoria 106, New South Wales 91) for the preceding year. Of others applying for New Zealand letters patent, 313 (276) lived in Croat Britain, 329 (200) in. the United States, and 18 (11) in Canada, the figures in brackets being for the year 1919. Trend of Invention. The attention bestowed by inventors on the different branches of industry will be best ascertained by reference to Table G. It will be noticed that there has been a considerable increase in the applications in the classes relating to building, tools, internal-combustion engines, metalworking, and milking and other dairying apparatus, and that, while there has been a general increase, not much change is involved in the others. Designs. There was an increase in the number of applications received during 1920, the total being 109, as compared with 73 during 1919, an increase of 49 per cent. The total number of registrations effected was 99, as compared with 64 during 1919, an increase of 54 per cent. The amount received in fees was £39 155., being more than in 1919. Trade-marks. Last year 1,390 applications for registration of trade-marks were received, 119 more than the number in the previous year. The amount received in fees in respect of trade-marks was £2,492 os. 6d., as against £1,925 17s. for 1919, an increase of £566 3s. 6d. The applications and revenue for the past three decades were as follows : — Period. Number of Applications. Revenue. 1890-1900 .. .. .. .. .. 3,261 3,905 11 6 1901-1910 .. .. .. .. .. 6,029 8,855 211 1911-1920 .. .. .. .. .. 8,324 14,944 14 7 The number of trade-marks on the Register at the end of the year was 11,835. Countries from which Applications received. From residents in New Zealand 323 applications were received, as compared with 286 for the previous year. The number from Great Britain was 412, as compared with 445 for 1919 ; United States of America, 430 (344) ; New South Wales, 92 (73); Victoria, 51 (63). The following figures show applications during previous three-year periods from various countries :— 1912-14. 1915-17. 1918-20. New Zealand .. .. .. .. 876 673 841 United Kingdom .. .. .. .. 749 509 1,035 Australia .. .. .. .. ..105 100 165 Other parts of Empire .. .. .. .. 30 58 71 United States of America .. .. 211 330 916 Other countries .. .. .. 133 42 97 Patent -Agents. The number of Patent Agents on the Register— i.e., twenty-two—has remained unchanged, there having been no names added or removed during the year. Staff. I have pleasure in again acknowledging the work of the staff of the office.