Not So Profitable?

An Issue of New Stamps

rAT valued standby of Pacific Terri tories Treasurers—namely, a new issue of postage stamps, likely to excite philatelists all over the world —is not as good as it used to be. Too much of the world is over-run by Germans and busy with war, to be bothered with new issues of postage stamps.

When Fiji took charge of the postal affairs of Pitcairn Island, some time ago, it was decided to issue a set of postage stamps especially for Pitcairn Island, and elaborate preparations were made to meet the expected world-wide demand of stamp-collectors. It was anticipated that the sale of stamps would realise about £20,000.

But it was sadly announced, in April, that up to then the orders for the new issue represented only £4,000.

Many a harassed Islands’ Treasurer has pulled his finances out of the mud by receiving from £20,000 to £40,000, in one year, from a new issue of postage stamps, but those halcyon days are gone, for the present. The system, no doubt, will be revived after the war—for stamp collect ing seems to be a hobby that never dies.

Now in Fiji are Mr. and Mrs. Wallace E. Turner, of Chicago, USA. Mr. Turner, who is a well-known American artist and illustrator, has been making a collection of paintings of natives in New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii, Samoa and Fiji. This is his second visit to Fiji. Mr. and Mrs.

Turner sailed from Sydney by the April “Mariposa” and will probably spend the next three months in the Colony.

Mr. R, D. Bertie, well-known solicitor of Port Moresby, has returned to Papua after a short holiday in Australia.