RAPID SALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 9

RAPID SALE.

COMMERCE STAMPS. COLLECTORS' PURCHASES. PROFITEERING COMPLAINT. A correspondent has written to the "Auckland Star" complaining of profiteering in connection with the new issue of commerce stamps, stating that some dealers are now offering to sell them at a higher value, and adding that some of the denominations are unprocurable. The sale of commerce stamps began on October 1, and supplies were distributed to every post office in the Dominion. An immediate rush set in by collectors, and it is stated that in Auckland large orders were placed, one collector spending as much as £300 to procure samples of the new issue. On inquiry being made at the Chief Post Office in Auckland this morning it was stated that no restrictions had been placed on big orders, and the principle of first come first served had been observed. The rush had been for the larger denominations, and at the moment no 6d, 4d or 2Jd stamps were on hand. There was, however, a supply of Jd and Id stamps available. The post office officials state that the demand could not be met, although the stamps had been sent to .every post office in the province. Yesterday a further supply of 2id and 6d stamps came to hand, and within half an hour the '2Jd issue was sold out, and others were cleared out by midday. The post office officials point out that they are not responsible for stamps being resold at higher values after the stamps have been sold over the counter, and they attribute the shortage to the extraordinary popularity of the issue.