INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXHANGES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 303, 7 December 1936, Page 8

INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXHANGES

CO-OPERATIVE ORGANISATION FOUNDED IN NEW ZEAL AND.

The Oceanic Exchange Club was founded in Feilding in 1924 by Mr F. 11. Bray, and now incorporates the South Sea Philatelic Exchange Club, Fiji, and the Colonial Philatelic Exchange Club, New Zealand. I The club is one of the oldest exchange clubs in New Zealand with members in 102 stamp issuing countries. In New Zealand only, a sales circuit is conducted under the auspices of the club by Mr W. 11. Dick of Stratford, superintendent. The sales circuit has a total of over 60 acting members and stamps are received from far corners of the world, from Siam, Tanganyika, Persia, U.S.S.R. —even Abyssinia. With literally hundreds of members scattered about the world, interesting exchanges and correspondence are carried on for stamps, postcards, photographs, curios, shells, music, badges, match-box labels and other articles. A club magazine is issued quarterly to all members. The club has a personal representative, a consul, in Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, England, France and Colonies, Federated Malay States, Latvia, Roumania, Straits Settlements, Syria and U.S.A. For the convenience of fellow members cer- i tain members will supply stamps of I their own countries at face value, thus enabling a goodly collection to be acquired at no great cost. These countries include North Rhodesia, St. Helena, Kedah, Dutch East Indies, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and Greece. J

Overseas Interest In Health Stamps. o —— Since 1929, New Zealand has issued Health stamps annually as a means of helping the children. Gradually the range of interest in this class of stamp has been widening with the result that the overseas sales of the current Health startip amounted io over £5OO in the first month of the campaign. Although the neighbouring Commonwealth of Australia has been a good customer for some of the New Zealand stamp issues, particularly the Pictorial and Silver Jubilee, its collectors have not taken a proportionate amount of interest in the Health stamps, the principal demand outside the Dominion being from the United States, • closely followed by Canada and the United Kingdom. From the latter country there is a further distribution to the Continent, particularly to Denmark, the home of the health stamp idea. The International Organisation for Children's Welfare, which has its headquarters in Switzerland, recognises the importance of the annual postal effort for our children by securing blocks of each year’s issue of the New Zealand health stamp.

Irrigation Scheme. The largest and most important project of its kind in New Zealai.d. may shortly be undertaken in Canterbury by the Public Works Department. In a statement last week, the Minister for Public Works ((the Hon. R. Semple) said the Cabinet had at present under consideration the granting of authority for the construction of a huge race from the Rangitaita River which will serve all the irrigation and stock water needs of the Ashburton County. Thirtyfour rnihls long, it would cost £134,002, and its construction would employ an average of 130 men for about three y'ears.

Associated with the organising and conduct of the club there is a director, editor, associate editor, secretary and the inevitable coni.plaints manager. Every one of these positions is entrusted to proved and skilful members. As a happy medium of exchange of stamps and correspondence the Oceanic Exchange Club offers to everyone unique facilities for the furthering of their hobby and it speaks well of the ability of Mr Bray and his associates that such a large club could be born in New Zealand and flourish with increasing prosperity through the past 12 years.