WAR SEAL FOUNDATION.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2564, 11 September 1915, Page 12

WAR SEAL FOUNDATION.

Sir,—Will you kindly allow space in your columns 111 order that tlio public may be apprised of tho truo position regarding the use of war seals issued by the War Seal Foundation (London). In the "Now Zealand Gazette" of July 19, 1915, Pago 2474, Clause 13, a regulation was published, the oifect of which is to prohibit tho uso of tho war soal. Power is thero given enabling postal officials to stop all correspondence bearing the war seal. This bolt from the blue exploded -in various parts of this Dominion, and in result chccked the use of seals, and closed that channel for .the flow of voluntary assistance to the sick, wounded, and disabled men of both Imperial services.

011 representing to the Government tho extraordinary position created by this remarkable "Gazott-o" notice, and seeking an explanation, the PostmasterGeneral decided that letters "bearing war seals may he passed meanwhile." lurther inquiry discloses that the Post Office had nothing to do with the framing of tho regulation in question, but merely with tlio carrying of it into effect. Zealous postmasters outside Wellington acted under tho clause quoted. They can scarcely bo blamed, but the Napier papers went a step further, and warned the public not to break the law by using war. seals. Tho ."Gazetto" notice emanated from the Defence Department, evidently under a misapprehension, not realising when framing this clause that such action would hinder the operations of a grand and world-wide patriotic movement. I appeal to your sense of fairness to give publicity to the truo story. I am sorry 1 have not a copy of the snapshot taken of a lady selling war seals to Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, at tho War Office steps, London on Alexandra Day!—l am, etc., W. DE li. BARCLAY. Wellington, September 7,1915,