CAMPAIGN TO STAMP OUT T.B.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18941, 11 December 1929, Page 9

CAMPAIGN TO STAMP OUT T.B.

MINISTER OF HEALTH APPEALS FOR AID. (Special to the “ Star.*’) AUCKLAND, December 11. The Hon A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, issues the following message : “To-day we launch our Christmas Seal campaign to stamp out tuberculosis. The seals are now' obtainable at all post offices throughout the Dominion. In the fight against incipient tuberculosis, childhood is the period to which our attention must be particularly directed. “It is appropriate that the -first claim upon the funds raised by the inaugural Christmas. Seal campaign should be the children’s health camp movepient. It is hoped that the success achieved will be such as to enable a large extension of these camps throughout the Dominion. The money thus invested will bring a national return in the added vigour and freedom from disease of the children concerned, and, in addition, will afford them throughout life a series of healthful, happy memories. “Every portion of New Zealand will benefit. Tnere will be co-opera-tion with existing local institutions. “I confidently appeal to all gen-erous-hearted fellow citizens over the holiday period to put a Christmas Seal on every letter posted whenever we buy a postage stamp. Let this be our kindly thought; ‘A penny for health.* This in the true spirit of Christmastide. We can show our practical sympathy with thousands of sufferers, our love for hundreds of boys and girls, and help forward a great nation-wide health campaign.”

BRISK DEMAND FOR NEW STAMP IN CHRISTCHURCH. WILL BE EAGERLY SOUGHT AFTER BY COLLECTORS. There was a brisk demand for the new Charity Stamp at the Christchurch Post Office this morning, and it is expected that between now and Christmas, when the stamp will probably be withdrawn, a very large number will be sold. Already large numbers of whole sheets of the stamps have been sold to local philatelists and dealers for sending abroad, and the amount likely to be raised for the purposes of the campaign against tuberculosis is expected to be very considerable. From an artistic point of view, the stamp is regarded by philatelists as disappointing, but at the same time it compares favourably with many of the charity stamps issued by other countries, some of which have followed what is described as the “new art” in choosing their designs. Mr R. J. G. Collins, secretary of the New Zealand Philatelic Council, and the New Zealand representative of the Royal Philatelic Society, said this morning that in criticising the production it had to be borne in mind that there had been only a limited amount of time in which to prepare the stamp in order that it should be on sale before Christmas, and under the circumstances the Postal Department had done very well indeed. With regard to the design, Mr Collins said that the word “New Zealand” was much too large, and the Maori bordering was conventional and did not resemble Maori art at all. The international Tuberculosis Cross was almost lost in the design, as it was far too small, while the placing of the slogan under the figure broke up the design. For surface-printed work, the figure of the nurse was particularly good, although the shield hardly conformed with the remainder of the design. As it was supposed to be the figure of a New Zealand nurse, it was rather a pit? that there was not some distinguishing mark. The stamp was certain to meet with a very heavy demand and as it was to be on sale for a limited period only, it was likely to become valuable in a few years’ time. The Postal Department had been wise in issuing one stamp only and that of a small and popular value. In some other countries, advantage had been taken of appeals for

charity to foist large and costly sets of stamps on to collectors, and for that reason their sales to the public had been adversely affected. In the case of the New Zealand stamp, no such criticism could be levelled against the Department; the stamp was likely to receive a very cordial welcome through out the world and sales would be ex ceedingly good. Mr Collins said that it was under stood that it was the policy of the Postal Department to issue a new chariy stamp for each Christmas period, and a considerable sum was likely to be raised .in this way for the benefit of deserving charities. It was not generally known that New Zealand was the greatest letter-writing country in the world in proportion to population, and that for every day the post offices were open approximately one million stamps are used. Probably 50 per cent of these stamps are of the penny value, so it would be seen that the Department had adopted the wisest course in choosmf[ a iv* va * ue or the charity stamp. Although there has been cricism by philatelists of the issue of the charity stamps as being unnecessary, the conservative policy of the New Zealand Postal Department in regard to the matter should stifle any attempt at criticism.’ remarked Mr Collins.