CORRESPONDENCE STAMP COLLECTING.

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1940, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

STAMP COLLECTING.

[to the editor.] Sir.—l wish to thank all those good people who have assisted us in providing used postage stamps for evacuated London school children. That they have been appreciated is evident from the accompanying letter received to-day. The embargo recently placed on the exportation of used stamps has not stopped the scheme. The boys and girls here are still gathering them, cleaning them, and then will sell them to N.Z. dealers and the money so raised will be applied to the same cause,— the relief of distress in London. Consequently we still appeal to all who can, to save their stamps. Boys or girls (duly authorised) will call if, necessary.—Yours, etc., H. R. BARRETT,

Dear Mr. Barrett, Many thanks indeed for the stamps, which were greatly appreciated, particularly the higher values, by the most ardent “philatelists.” You will see we have changed our address once again. I do not think I have written you from here before. I brought away 120‘children in June and we are now scattered between four villages in this beautiful part of England. Fortunately the children had the Summer before them and they took part in the most interesting part of the farm work and by now many of the older lads are efficient milkers, etc., and some even drive the tractors. Education as you may guess is a problem and the village schools are very crowded. By taking over church halls, etc., we manage to get along fairly well, although I am afraid this school generation will be much behind with the three gods “R.” However, their

general education has benefited, which is the great thing. Conditions in the villages and farm, cottages are extremely primitive —even your “back blocks” are more advanced in many ways. The farm labourer cannot be compared with the farm worker of Australia or New Zealand. His posi--1 tion is very poor and the farmers, on i the whole, are very hard. The saying lis that they “would skin a stone.” (They also have three gods—Work I with a capital WORK, Money and i their Chapel. I think the influx from .the cities will do their outlook good

'eventually. People in our rural districts do not get about like they do in New Zealand and many of them have ! never been farther than the nearest market town, and have no desire to do so. They look upon city folk as foreigners—heathen hordes someone de- ■ scribed them —a parson at that. The '.countryside is rapidly getting o.ver- ■ crowded with people from the towns, j and the problems are many. Oil jlamps, outdoor primitive sanitation ;and pump water come hard to many I of us, but after several week-ends back in London I think this is to be preferred. I remembei' the West Coast well and fortunately when* I came down on my bike from Nelson to the Fox I struck a fairly dry spell in December. I remember the Education Secretary in Christchurch was a West Coast man, and he told me of the West Coast hospitality. I stopped at all kinds of hotels and accommodation houses and found his words to be true. I remember well staying at Greymouth, Hokitika, a small place further down the coast and at the Franz Josef and always struck good company. It all seems a very long way away now. However, we must all hope for better times. The spirit of the people is wonderful, but, as you know, inaction is good for none. We were just reKwerwg from the last war and its con-

sequent depression. I wonder what kind of a world we shall have after (this—it will need some resettling, j At the moment we are organising for the Winter which is upon us—the 'children cannot move very far in the dark so we are arranging all kinds of individual activities —knitting, cross--words, various problems and hobbies, model building and the stamp collecting so we shall be grateful for your continued, help. Ido not think there is any other way you can help but indeed many thanks foi' the suggestion. I have also fixed up practically all the older children with correspondents either in Canada, Australia or New Zealand. As you no doubt know, the children are always keen on this idea, but seldom manage to carry it on successfully for any length of time. ! ! With kindest regards and best! wishes to you, you;' staff and scholars. •