NEW HEALTH STAMPS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 221, 15 June 1944, Page 4

NEW HEALTH STAMPS

Portraits Of Princesses Again Featured

Portraits of t,heir Royal Highnesses Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose will, by special permission of the King, again appear ou the New Zealand health stamps, said the Minister of Health, Mr. Ndrdmeyer, at a meeting of the Dominion Federation of Health Camps yesterday. This year’s stamps, are rectangular in shape, and there are again two values—2d. postage plus Id. health and Id. postage plus -Jd. health —but the design of both stamps is alike, showing the two princesses together, the elder in the uniform of the sea rangers and the younger in that of the girl guides. "The general layout is unusual _ for New Zealand stamps,” said Mr. Nordmeycr, “as the background is not. shaded between the portraits of the princesses —the absence of the usual cross-hatching being most effective. The words ‘New Zealand’ appear in the top left-hand corner of the stamps, embellished by a spray of kowbai in flower. Another spray of the same flower in the top right-haifti corner completes the design. Panels in the left-hand and right-hand corners show the postage and health values respectively. The lower value stamp is being printed in deep green and the higher denomination in a pleasing shade of blue. “The production of the stamps is being undertaken by Bradbury, Wilkinson and Co., .Ltd.. London, who also prepared the design; and I have every confidence that the stamps will be as attractive and popular as were last year’s issues. "Since the first issue of health stamps in 1929 the annual sale has been the means of raising large sums- of money for the health camp movement. As you know, the sales last year were a record, but I feel sure that with the wholehearted assistance of the various committees represented at this meeting this year’s sales can be made equally successfill.

"It is now thought possible that those health camps which were temporarily used for other purposes will lie able to resume their normal functions at. an early date. May I suggest that the date of opening of these camps coincide with the date ou which the 1944 stumps are placed on sale, which will no doubt be October

"You will discuss at this meeting a suggestion that a national publicity committee be formed. I hope that you will give the proposal your full support, as the time is opportune to plan and organize for a successful campaign. The ideas and suggestions of such a publicity panel would, I am sure, be very helpful to local and district committees, and be instrumental in keeping the health stamp campaign continually before the notice of the general public.”