ANZAC STAMPS

Evening Post, Issue 98, 27 April 1936, Page 11

ANZAC STAMPS

LORD GALWAY'S APPEAL

"A MOST WORTHY OBJECT"

An appeal to all to buy the special Anzac stamps, which are on sale from today, and in this way assist the efforts of the Returned Soldiers' Association to meet the needs of returned men and their dependants was made by his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Galway, in a broadcast address last night. His Excellency stressed "the fact that many cases are not covered by the terms of legislation.

"The necessity for continued practical acknowledgment of our duty to the men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force h?s not diminished with the passing years," said his Excellency, in his address. • "Provision made through pension legislation, amended from time to time, has not been able fully to meet the needs of returned men and their dependants. So recently as last year it was found necessary to widen the scope of the War Pensions Act in order, to meet cases of disability of returned soldiers who, although suffering as a result of war service, were unable to prove according to' the terms of previous legislation that their present condition is due to that war service.

"The physical hardships and discomforts endured by the men in Flanders for weeks on end, quite apart altogether from the risks of battle, took toll of their physique in a way which was not evident when they underwent medical examination at the time of demobilisation. But we all know that the tale of those strenuous years is being told today in the premature ageing and breakdown of many of those who were proud to be passed as fit on return to their civilian occupations after the Armistice. Moreover, in the case of many,, an undermined health has during the past few years been aggravated by inability to obtain suitable regular employment. ! PRACTICAL RECOGNITION. "It has now become a necessity to endeavour to supplement State forms of aid in a multitude of cases which cannot be covered by the terms of any statute. To this end the New Zealand Post Office, at the request of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, is marking the twenty-first anniversary of the historic landing at Anzac Cove by the issue of special commemorative Anzac stamps which will be on sale tomorrow morning. The stamps are not only commemorative: they will give the people of New Zealand an opportunity of showing in a practical sense their continued recognition of the sacrifices made by their | young men at a time of the Empire's greatest need. The stamps are of two denominations, one costing 2d, comprising one penny for postage and one penny for the benefit of returned soldiers, and the other costing Id, of which one halfpenny represents postage and one halfpenny a contribution to the relief funds. i

"I am very glad to have been afforded an opportunity of associating myself with this appeal—an appeal which, after all, is one for practical acknowledgment in a very small way of the enormous,, sacrifices made by the soldiers of your young country in answer to the Empire's call, and one which, I am sure, will commend itself to New Zealanders and will meet with a ready response. The object, as you all know, is a most worthy one, and the method of helryig is such that all may share in it according to . their resources. I wish the campaign every success."

Exceedingly brisk trade in the new commemorative Anzac stamps and the special first day covers set in at the Post Office from an early hour this morning, and has been continuing ever since. In spite of having previous issues of health stamps as a guide, quite a number of purchasers needed (o have explained to- them that the stamp which cost twopence only prepaid postage to the extent of one penny, and similarly that the stamp which cost one penny only fulfilled the function of a halfpenny stamp when affixed to a letter. Many collectors addressed the special first covers to themselves and to other collectors both inside and outside New Zealand. These will all be date stamped by hand.