H.—lo

Trade-marks. In the report for last year reference was made to the effect on trade-mark activity of the trade depression then being experienced in many countries throughout the world. The opinion was, however, expressed that in the ensuing year there would be a return to more normal conditions. It is therefore satisfactory to note that the number of trade-mark applications for 1927 has exceeded the average for the years 1922-26 by 115. The total number of applications was 1,325, being 182 in excess of the number for the preoeeding year. The amount paid in respect of fees was £3,370 175., showing an increase of £282 15s. over 1926. The applications received from persons resident in New Zealand numbered 460 (451) ; 284 (259) were received from residents in Great Britain and 189 (223) from the United States of America. Applications from the Australian States were as follows : New South Wales, 66 (75) ; Victoria, 66 (59) ; Queensland, 0 (4). There were 10 (27) from Canada and 202 (24) from Germany. The increase in the number received from Germany ,is due to a group of over 170 applications by a large German chemical-manufacturing concern. The number of applications from persons resident within the British Empire (including New Zealand) totalled 892, as compared with 877 for 1926 and 996 for 1925, being 67-32 per cent, of the number of applications for the year. The number of applications received up to the 31st December, 1889, was 1,213. From that date to the 3lst December, 1927, 26,016 applications were lodged, giving a total of 27,229. Applications were greatest in number in the following classes of goods : " Chemical substances used in manufactures, photography, or philosophical research, and anti-corrosives " (Class 1), 132 (41) ; " Articles of clothing " (Class 38), 115 (74); and " Substances used as food or as ingredients in food " (Class 42), 203 (170). Patent Agents. One name was added to the register during the year, making the total number of names twenty. Conclusion. The appendix hereto contains the following tables, lists, &c., viz. : — A. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1927. B. Table showing Receipts and Payments for each of the Last Ten Years. C. Particulars of Pees received from Ist January to 31st December, 1927, together with the Corresponding Figures for the years 1925 and 1926. D. Total Number of Applications for Patents and for Registration of Designs and Trademarks recorded for the Years 1910 to 1927 (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 1926 and 1927, together with the Average for the Years 1921-25 (inclusive). G. Number of Applications for Patents for the Different Classes of Inventions in each of the Years 1926 and 1927, together with the Average for the Years 1921-25 (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, 1927 (inclusive). I. Number of Applications for Registration of Designs in each of the Fifteen Classes in each of the Years 1925, 1926, and 1927. 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 1926 and 1927, together with the Average for the Years 1921-25 (inclusive). K. Number of Applications to register Trade-marks in the Fifty Different Classes in each of the Years 1926 and 1927, together with the Average for the Years 1921-25 (inclusive). H. T. Atkinson, Registrar of Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks. Patent Office, Wellington, 25th June, 1928.

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