PEACE STAMPS

Evening Star, Issue 25776, 26 April 1946, Page 4

PEACE STAMPS

ISLANDS ISSUES The Id, 2d, 6d, and 8d denominations of the New Zealand peace stamps, overprinted for use in each of the Island Territories of Niue, Cook Islands, and Western Samoa, will be placed on sale in the Island territories on June 4 next. As from that date they will also be on sale at the Chief Post Offices at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington, and at the Stamps Branch, General Post Office, Wellington. The four denominations mentioned are the ones mostly in use in the Island Dependencies, and consequently the remaining values of the New Zealand peace series are not being overprinted for island use. In maiking this announcement today, the Acting Postmaster-General (the Hon. P. Jones) said that, because the stamp had to be overprinted in New Zealand, it was hot feasible to place them on sale" on the same date as the New Zealand series. Supplies of the overprinted stamps were now coming to hand, but time would have to be allowed to enable the stamps to reach the more outlying post offices in the island groups. June 4 was, therefore, the earliest date on which the stamps could be made available to ihe public. Envelopes for use as first-day covers for each territory had been provided free of charge and would be available at the islands post offices. A limited number would also be available at the stamps branch of the General Post Office, Wellington. • Mr Jones added that orders for the islands stamps, either to be affixed to first-day covers or to be. supplied in mint condition, may be forwarded direct to the postmasters, Apia (Western Samoa), Rarotonga (Cook Islands), or Niue. These orders should be posted fully prepaid, in sufficient time to connect with the surface mail closing at Auckland for Apia and Niue at 8 a.m. on May 2, and Rarotonga at 8 a.m. on May 14. These would be the latest surface mails to reach the islands, prior to the issue of the stamps. The air mail service could, however, be used for fate orders. Air mails for Apia close at Auckland at 8 a.m. on May 9, 16, and' 23, and for Rarotonga (but not Niue) at 8 a.m. on May 8 and 22. Mail notices should, however, be: watched for any change in the foregoing closing dates. There was 'ho air. mail service to .Niu.e. Correspondence intended for despatch by air to the islands postmasters mentioned would require to he fully prepaid at the rate of 5d each half-ounce. Tf so desired, persons could place their orders with the stamps branch, General Post Office, but these orders would have to reach Wellington not later than May l_so as to ensure connection with the mails to'the islands concerned. The Minister concluded by saying that already a considerable demand for the stamps was in evidence. Orders on an extensive scale had been received by the New Zealand Post Office not. only from local collectors, but also from overseas philatelists, and dealers.