EGYPT "FOREIGN"

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1940, Page 6

EGYPT "FOREIGN"

CENSORSHIP OPINION NO EXCHANGE OF STAMPS TARANAKI RESENTMENT

The pro-British tendencies of Egypt and the presence of New Zealand "troops there do not prevent the country from being regarded as foreign in the eyes of the Dominion censorship authorities. Stamp collectors are no longer permitted to exchange stamps with Egyptian philatel^sts unless the transaction is conducted by a recognised stamp dealer. Objection to a system of censorship that forces individual collectors who have worked up a connection with collectors in all parts of the world to discontinue exchanging stamps by correspondence was expressed at a recent meeting of the Hawera Philatelic Society, and it was decided to write to the New Zealand Philatelic Society for an expression of opinion. Effect on Philatelists. An example of the effect of the regulations upon philatelists was given by a member of the Hawera society when interviewed by a Daily News representative yesterday. For more than five years he has conducted correspondence with an Egyptian living at Minia, Upper Egypt, the two men exchanging stamps throughout that period without incurring the premium, which a recognised stamp dealer would (fiaim. Correspondence of this type was continued after the declaration of war, two letters being received from Egypt and two being despatched from Hawera. The letters were censored and no exception was taken to the inclusion of stamps for exchange. Recently, however, a third letter bearing the Egyptian address was posted at Hawera, and some time later stamps enclosed in the letter were returned to the sender from the Dead Letter Office. Letter Sent, Stamps Returned. "The accompanying postage stamps are returned at the direction oi the censorship authorities for the reason that it is not permissable to forward used or unused postage stamps to foreign coun-

tries," stated an accompanying notice. "The letter has been released for transmission with a suitable note explaining that the stamps were abstracted and returned to the sender." The sender of the stamps wrote to the controller of censorship, Mr, G. McNamara, pointing out that since the declaration of war two letters were received from Egypt containing stamps and that two were despatched from New Zealand without any interference on the part of the censorship authorities, and asking for a definite vuling whether Egypt was a foreign country. "It is regretted that only recognised stamp dealers may send postage stamps from Ncw Zealand to foreign countries," replied Mr. McNamara. "Egypt is deemed for this purpose to be a foreign country." The question is being asked what the position will be if Egypt declares war on Italy.