Stamp council set up to design new issues

Press, 30 August 1985, Page 5

Stamp council set up to design new issues

New Zealand stamps should be more innovative and expressive of New Zealand, said the PostmasterGeneral, Mr Hunt, yesterday. To facilitate this, a Stamp Design Council had been set up to design and issue future New Zealand stamps, he said.

Mr Hunt was speaking at the opening of Stampex ’B5, the national youth stamp exhibition at the Horticultural Hall.

“For many years, the theme and designs of New Zealand stamp issues have been, with few exceptions, guided by Post Office officials. The Post Office feels that the time is now opportune to embark on a new direction,” Mr Hunt said.

He said the time had come to have another way of choosing designs. “I think our stamp designs have not been up to the designs of some other countries during the 19705,” Mr Hunt said.

“The designers have been a little dull in the 1970 s — that is not to say they (the stamps) have not been professionally done.

“I think there have been some very good issues — for example, the early transport series — but I think we have to look at something a little different for the 1980 s,” Mr Hunt said.

The Stamp Design Council will comprise a representative of the philatelic community, a representative of the museum or historic

places trust areas, two members of Parliament, a designer representing fine arts, a representative of the Institute of Industrial Designers, and two Post Office officials. Mr Hunt said that the decision to set up the council would not affect designs already approved because there would be a 14-month “lead in” to the new stamps. The designs from the council would be available in 1987, Mr Hunt said. “I am really keen to see how this will work,” he said. The chairman of Stampex ’B5, Mr Steven McLachlan, said he expected several thousand people to attend the exhibition. The total value of the stamps on display was about $2.5 million, he said.