CENTENNIAL STAMP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1939, Page 6

CENTENNIAL STAMP

ALLEGED BLUNDERS.

PICTURE AND DESCRIPTION

OF ENDEAVOUR

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day

Faults in the design of one of the stamps approved for inclusion in the issue under preparation for the New Zealand centennial celebrations are alleged by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and at a meeting of the council of the chamber last night, the following letter sent to the authorities by the secretary, Mr E. M. Bardsley, was read: — “From a reproduction of the ' new scries of centennial stamps published in ‘The Dominion’ on July 19, it would appear that a rather serious error has been made in the design of the .penny stamps We would suggest that the ship, which is described as a "bark” is most certainly not a bark but rather a lull-rigged ship, and that the sails of such ship did not appear to be drawing as they should to a steady wind. The design of' the bow is also incorrect.

“The spelling of the word ‘bark’ is also wrong from an English viewpoint as this word. has. from the earliest times, been spelt ‘barque.’

“We realise only too well how easy it is for mistakes such as those we have pointed out to creep in. notwithstanding the utmost viligance. but we do suggest that it would be a very poor advertisement for New Zealand if this, one of the most commonly used stamps, were issued for distribution throughout the world. “As our criticism is meant to be constructive we will be happy to supply you with a reproduction of Captain Cook's Endeavour which is held to be authentic.”

The Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department wrote in reply “that in the reproduction of the Endeavour shown in the stamp the department was advised technically and historically by authorities in London." The various points raised were being referred to those authorities and the results would be communicated to the chamber in due course.

The president of the chamber (Captain S. Holm) said that to describe a full-rigged ship as a barque would make New Zealand the laughing-stock of the world.