Exploiting the Islands
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
UNDER the above heading, a writer in a recent issue of the Australian Stamp Journal brings to light another scheme to “cash in” on the South Seas.
A paragraph in the American magazine Stamps discloses that an American firm is sponsoring a special cruise to the South Pacific Ocean with the avowed object of exploiting the philatelic interest of the Pacific Islands, he writes.
A special vessel (which has been called the Philatelist ) has been built for the cruise, and at each port of call the crew will send out letters adorned with those cachets and other private marks so
treasured by a certain class of collectors.
A philatelic writer will accompany the cruise to compile manuscripts on the spot, which will, of course, be full of local colour.
The whole project reminds us of the Seth Parker stunt, and we are afraid that these activities, if continued, will soon spoil all the charm there is left in the stamps and postal history of the Islands.
The “Tin Can Mail” of Niuafoou Island (Tongan Group) is a case in point. Once
it possessed a romantic interest, but alas, it has now fallen a victim (like so many other things of this age) to a blatant commercialism.
Mr. William Cash, well-known New Guinea miner, has rejoined the staff of Enterprise of New Guinea N.L. He had retired owing to ill-health, but after a visit to Australia returned to the Man dated Territory to take up his old position.