REGISTRATION OF TRADE MARKS (Number of applications)

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry whether he will state the number of applications for registration of trademarks:-

(i) received prior to 31st December, 1957, but not gazetted before that date for the purpose of inviting grounds of opposition;

(ii) received, during the period January to June, 1958; and

(iii) received on or before 30th June, 1958, but not gazetted before that date for the purpose of inviting grounds of opposition;

and whether he will state the average length of time taken to gazette such applications after they are received, and the reasons therefor.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Registry of Trade Marks is a pan-Malayan/North Borneo department dealing with registration for the Federation of Malaya, British North Borneo and Singapore.

The total applications received prior to 31st December, 1957, but not gazetted by that date amounted to 1,472.

The total applications received during the period January to June, 1958, amounted to 1,600.

The total received on or before 30th June, 1958, but not gazetted by that date for the purpose of inviting grounds of opposition amounted to 2,957.

The average length of time taken to gazette such applications is between three and six months. The delay in gazetting is due to the fact that there has had to be correspondence between the Registrar and the applicants' agents and because of the smallness of the Registry staff and the delay in the printing and publishing. The post of Deputy Registrar has now been vacant for some time and efforts will be made to fill it.

Mr John Ede: Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister state whether this unsatisfactory state of affairs could have been avoided and further what steps he will take to effect an improvement?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: I admit, Sir. that the unsatisfactory state of affairs could have been avoided if the matter had come to my attention earlier. However, unfortunately, this department works as a department on its own in an automatic fashion and I have not received any complaints of delay. If I had received, I would have certainly investigated the reasons for the delay and tried to expedite the work.

I thank the hon. Member for asking this question, thus drawing my attention to this state of affairs and I will see to it that the work is expedited in that department.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: Are we hearing an admission from the Minister that parts of his Ministry work in an automatic fashion until they are brought to his notice?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: We are, Sir, hearing an admission from the Minister that parts of his Ministry are not working to the satisfaction of the Minister. However, there are certain matters which are not of policy but routine and therefore they are handled by heads of departments. You cannot expect the Minister to handle the thousands of applications for registration of trade marks, companies, businesses and that is why you have Registrars of Trade Marks, businesses, companies, and so on. There are so many departments in the Ministry where the applications go direct. Naturally, things are handled by the heads of departments and only policy matters or appeals or complaints come to the Minister.